Reducing medication related falls: A study of medication timing, medication reconciliation and falls reduction in an acute care hospital.

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Publication Date

11-18-2016

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Advisor:

MR Cooper, Jefferson College of Population Health Thomas Jefferson University

Abstract

Because of the increasing number of falls in our health system and the known risk of increasing falls due to medications we sought to look at the relationship between inpatient falls and medication timing. The articles reviewed did state the risk increases with certain types of medications, yet there was no research regarding the timing of the medication. If patients took their daily once a day medications in the evening and slept while the medication had the highest plasma levels would we see a decrease in falls related to medication therapy? Diuretics will be excluded from the study and will stay on the schedule of the morning. Bryn Mawr Hospital will conduct this study starting in January and conclude in one calendar year. The 0900 dose of medications will be moved to 2100 and all falls will be investigated by one of the fall champions in real time. The pharmacist will also review the patient’s medication list for fall-risk increasing drugs (FRID’s). Polypharmacy will also be investigated and recommendations for unnecessary medication which could be classified as FRID’s will be communicated and discussed with the prescribing physician. The potential benefits of the project will include education and awareness due to inclusion of the pharmacy, physicians, their extenders and nursing staff regarding what are FRID’s and polypharmacy and how can they increase our patients risk of falls while in our care. The medication timing will be a pilot at Bryn Mawr Hospital only and if proven to decrease falls at this one institution this will be implemented across campuses.

Presentation: 40:09

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