UniSA launches pilot to make medicines safer for older Australians

UniSA launches pilot to make medicines safer for older Australians

In a nationwide effort to make medication safer for older Australians, the University of South Australia is calling on aged care professionals and pharmacists to take part in a new pilot study to assess medication safety and management in residential aged care.

Developed in response to theRoyal Commission on Quality and Safety in Aged Care,The study will use the new PHARMA-Care National Quality Framework to assess medication management and clinical services provided by pharmacists, part of the Australian Government's $350 million Aged Care On-site Pharmacist Program.

The framework, co-developed with 14 project partners and funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), provides structure and support to pharmacists in the safe and effective use of medicines in aged care homes.

Importantly, it promotes a transparent, person-centred approach to medication management and equitable access to pharmacist services across the sector.

UniSA Associate Professor Janet Sluggett says person-centred medication management has never been more important in residential aged care.

As society moves towards care models in which older people choose to stay at home longer, those who use residential aged care are increasingly frail, have complex medical histories and high care needs.

Pharmacists are crucial in ensuring that medications are used safely and effectively by residents of aged care homes. However, to date there has been no structure to comprehensively assess the quality of medication use in this setting.

Our framework offers nursing homes and pharmacists Structure and support to deliver high quality, consistent care in five key areas related to medication management. It helps frontline pharmacists measure impact, contributes to clinical governance, and promotes discussion with care teams, residents, and families to achieve person-centered care.

Importantly, it identifies factors that facilitate high-quality medication use and supports continuous improvement, and highlights aspects of medication-related care that are most important to residents.”

Janet Sluggett, Associate Professor, UniSA

Worryingly, 98% of people living in aged care facilities have at least one medication-related problem and many may be prescribed inappropriate medication. Approximately one third of all nursing home residents are admitted to hospital each year, and 17% of unplanned hospital admissions are due to an inappropriate medication.

As the first structured, evidence-based approach to monitoring, evaluating and continually improving the quality of medication management and pharmacist-led care in Australian aged care homes, the new framework aims to help care providers reduce the risks associated with polypharmacy and support the best use of medicines.

Anne-Marie Gillard, Eldercare's operational services executive, says the PHARMA Care project sets a new national benchmark for high-quality medication use in aged care homes.

“This initiative will enable pharmacists, doctors and care providers to provide high quality, patient-focused care to older Australians,” Gillard said. “Eldercare is proud to be involved in this visionary work that will drive excellence and deliver safer outcomes across the sector.”

The framework is also supported by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).

“The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is proud to endorse and support the PHARMA-Care National Quality Framework led by the University of South Australia,” says Assoc Professor Fei Sim FPS, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. “It offers qualified pharmacists guidance in their task of improving the quality of medication use for patients in nursing homes.”

According to Dr. According to UniSA Senior Research Fellow Sara Javanparast, the team is currently disseminating and testing the framework's quality indicators in aged care homes across Australia and is seeking expressions of interest from local aged care providers and pharmacists interested in participating.

“The assessment of this framework is an important step towards establishing a national quality monitoring system for drug safety in elderly care,” says Dr. Javanparast.

“By working with pharmacists and aged care professionals, we can ensure the new program achieves its goal of safer medicines, better communication and an improved quality of life for aged care residents.”

To take part in the pilot study, pharmacists and geriatric nurses can contact the following address: [email protected]

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