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Older patients are likely to have complex medication regimens, which need to be carefully managed as they move across and within diverse settings, including primary care, acute care, geriatric rehabilitation, and aged care facilities. These movements often involve different health professionals, such as general practitioners and medical specialists. Problems with medication communication across transitions of care are the key reasons for increased risk of medication‐related problems and hospital readmissions.

Discussions with older patients and families are often not prioritised across transitions of care; instead, fleeting conversations take place at irregular time points and for short periods just before or after transfers. These conversations are rarely organised in a goal‐directed way where medication communication is conveyed accurately, clearly and comprehensively. The impact of fleeting conversations is that even if medication information is conveyed, patients and families may not be involved in key decisions about newly prescribed, ceased or changed medications, or may not voice their concerns and preferences about the medication regimen. There is lack of recognition that “the one person who remains constant is the patient, who has the most to lose in a disconnected health system”.

This MJA perspectives shares more. 

Learning Outcomes

• Explain key components of the perspective
• List main findings
• Develop clear and comprehensive conversations techniques to use when talking to older patients and their families regarding their medication regimes.

Details

Author: Elizabeth Manias, Carmel Hughes, Robyn E Woodward‐Kron, Christine M Jorm, Guncag Ozavci and Tracey K BucknallMed J 

Article Type: Perspective