Avoid the Pitfalls of Manual Medication Management in Senior Living
When senior living communities and the pharmacies that service them must rely on manual medication management, there is a greater chance that they may make some easily preventable errors. Learn about the most common pitfalls and how to leverage technology to avoid them.
Manual Medication Management Pitfalls
These are the most common pitfalls of manual medication management and the impacts on the healthcare system.
Medication Errors
Each year:
-
7,000 – 9,000
people die as a result of a medication error
-
$40 billion +
are spent treating medication errors1
Medication Nonadherence
Medication nonadherence has been linked to increased hospitalizations and mortality2
and is associated with a 50% increase in the risk of falls3
_____________
Medication nonadherence morbidity and mortality has an economic impact of $528.4 billion dollars annually4
4 Reasons to Use Technology for Medication Management in Senior Living
Senior living communities may feel the impacts of these pitfalls directly when residents experience complications of medication errors and nonadherence. However, there are numerous benefits to using technology for medication management.
Safer Medication Delivery
Electronic medication management can solve many problems with manual processes, from legibility concerns with handwritten prescriptions, to dosing errors, to drug-drug interactions and drug allergies, and more. In one study, the introduction of electronic prescribing in a senior care community resulted in both a reduced number of medications prescribed and a reduced incidence of falls in older residents.5
Quality Medication and Care Outcomes
Technology solutions can aid in compliance with initiatives like CMS’ Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) tool Care for Older Adults (COA) medication review that focuses on the importance of medication safety as it relates to quality outcomes for older adults.
Improved Efficiency
Aside from improved safety and quality, the efficiency of care is improved with automation: less time spent managing medications and more time spent providing direct care to residents.
Address Labor Shortage Concerns
The right technology solution eliminates the need for some manual tasks and speeds up many other workflows. Built-in alerts and oversight give safety guardrails to newer, onboarding staff who might be more prone to errors. Automated feedback helps leaders maintain oversight of their employees and offers real-time education.
Move from Manual to Electronic Medication Management
With the serious impacts of manual medication management pitfalls and the benefits electronic medication management offers, it’s easy to see why senior living communities are adopting technology to streamline their processes and improve resident safety. Ready to make the switch?