PharmScript on Pain Management in Nursing Communities: Consult a Pharmacist
Edison, NJ (PRWEB) July 31, 2013 -- Persistent pain now affects 50 percent of individuals aged 65 and older and consultant pharmacists play an increasingly important role in assisting nursing facilities in developing effective pain management protocol.
According to the experts at PharmScript, a long-term care pharmacy headquartered in New Jersey, leading selection, administration and monitoring of pain medication and non-pharmacological interventions are important components of caring for residents with pain.
“Consultant pharmacists are valuable resources in determining the proper pain medication regimen for each resident and in establishing systems for monitoring the effectiveness of pain relieving drugs,” said PharmScript founder, Saul Greenberger.
F425 Pharmacy Services instructs surveyors to determine if a nursing facility involved a consultant pharmacist in developing, implementing, and evaluating pharmaceutical procedures, including processes for accurately acquiring, receiving, storing, controlling, dispensing, and administering routine and emergency medications.
Consultant pharmacists brings many skills and a range of knowledge to these discussions and nursing facilities benefit from drawing on that expertise when establishing systems for managing residents’ pain, Greenberger said.
To assist nursing facilities in establishing effective systems for resident pain management, PharmScript offers these two reminders:
1. When working with the medical team to establish a resident’s pain medication regime, the consultant pharmacist determines whether the ordered dose, frequency, route of administration, and duration are consistent with the resident’s medical condition, manufacturer’s recommendations, and applicable standards of practice.
The consult pharmacist should be an expert at determining potential side effects of pain medications, as well as significant medication interactions in the following categories:
-medication to medication
-medication to food
-medication and disease states
-medication and herbal remedies
During residents’ monthly medication regimen reviews, the consultant pharmacists should assess residents’ pain management outcomes.
2. The standard of care required by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services includes documentation of:
-a pain assessment before administration of the prescribed pain medication
-non-pharmaceutical interventions prior to use of a pain medication
-an the evaluation of effectiveness of the medication after administration
-medication adjustments or changes if necessary
To read more helpful tips on how to maximize the pharmacy experience, visit PharmScript’s learning center at http://www.pharmscript.com/learning.html.
About PharmScript:
The unique principles upon which PharmScript was founded were based on years of invaluable experience in the long-term care industry. Comprised of a reputable and experienced management team, PharmScript is geared toward providing the ultimate pharmacy experience utilizing cutting-edge technology, impeccable customer service, and assisting facilities in saving on pharmacy costs. Pharmscript currently services New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, Florida and Texas.
Saul Greenberger, Pharmscript, http://www.pharmscript.com, 888-319-1818, [email protected]
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