National Consultant Pharmacist Week October 2430, 2005

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Americas Senior Care Pharmacists
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National Consultant Pharmacist WeekOctober
24-30, 2005
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Aging in America
2004 36 million seniors 2030 75 million
seniors
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Each day in the United States, another 6,000
people reach age 65.
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Seniors aged 85 years and over are the most
rapidly growing elderly age group.
2004 4.8 million 2050 19 million
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Seniors who need help with activities of daily
living
Age 65 to 69 years 9 Age 85 or older 50
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Medications are probably the single most
important health care technology
in preventing illness, disability, and
death in the geriatric
population.
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Americas Seniors
12 of the population Consumes 34 of
prescription drugs
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Senior Care Pharmacy Fact
65 to 69 years old 14 prescriptions
per year 80 to 84 years old
18 prescriptions per year
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Any symptom in an elderly patient should be
considered a drug side
effect until
proven otherwise.
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Americas Seniors At high risk for
medication-related problems

• Physiological changes of aging
• Higher incidence of multiple chronic diseases
  and conditions
• Greater consumption of prescription and
  over-the-counter medications

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Medication-related problems are among the top
five causes of death for people age 65 and older.
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Medication-related problems are a major cause of
confusion, depression, falls, disability, and
loss of independence.
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36 of all reported adverse drug reactions
involve an elderly person.
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32,000 elderly suffer hip fractures each year
from falls caused by medication-related
problems
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28 of hospitalizations among seniors are due to
adverse drug reactions.
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Consultant Pharmacists

• Committed to caring
  for each individual
• Counsel patients
• Provide information
  to prescribers and caregivers

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Consultant Pharmacists
Review patients drug regimens Present
educational programs Oversee medication
distribution
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Consultant Pharmacists
Consider most appropriate and effective
medication Ensure safety, compliance, and
proper therapy administration Identify,
resolve, and prevent medication-related problems
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The Consultant Pharmacists Creed

• I hold my patients interests above all others.

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The Consultant Pharmacists Creed

• I take responsibility for my patients
  medication-related needs.

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The Consultant Pharmacists Creed

• I ensure that my patients medications are the
  most appropriate, the most effective, the safest
  possible, and are used correctly.

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The Consultant Pharmacists Creed

• I identify, resolve, and prevent
  medication-related problems that may interfere
  with the goals of therapy.

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ConsultantPharmacists
Protecting the Health and Quality of
Life of Americas Seniors
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Americas Senior Care Pharmacists
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Developed by the American Society of
Consultant Pharmacists
1321 Duke StreetAlexandria, VA 22314703-739-1300