Long Term Care
Most long-term care residents are on multiple medications leading to potential adverse effects. Our consultant pharmacists make recommendations to the IDCP team to implement specific therapeutic medication management plans for each resident that result in positive outcomes with the fewest medications.
- Clinical evaluation of the resident’s Medication Regimen monthly and at the request of the facility based on the resident’s status.
- Remote access or Fax Back reviews of all admissions and readmissions within the 48-hour time frame. Interim medication reviews are also available if requested.
- Participate in Antibiotic Stewardship, Psychotropic, Fall, Infection Control, and Quality Assurance Committee Meetings.
- Observe Medication Pass and provide individual and group instruction on the appropriate administration of medications.
- Evaluate Psychotropic Medication use and recommend dosage adjustments based on resident status and CMS guidelines.
- Antibiotic Stewardship Program is implemented in coordination with the facilities Infection Preventionist program for monitoring antibiotic use and measuring outcomes.
- Nursing Station Inspections of medications and biologicals for appropriate storage and handling.
- Educate staff through individual and group inservicing.
- Design Policy and Procedures according to CMS and facility protocol.
- Assist your IDCP team to prepare for annual state and federal surveys. Mock surveys are performed as requested by the facility. Identification of findings is reviewed with administration. The staff is educated and plans of correction are implemented as a follow-up to findings.
- On-going Audits by the Senior Consultant Pharmacist. You will have the confidence of two consultants reviewing your resident charts.
Assisted Living Centers/Residential Centers/Adult Day Care Center
Many residents in assisted living facilities receive multiple medications and are at risk for drug interactions. Clinical Research Systems review focuses on preventing drug interactions to maintain and improve their activities of daily living.
- Educate nursing staff on medication therapies¸ drug interactions, and appropriate administration of medications.
- Medication management is continually reviewed and improved through the consulting pharmacy quality assurance process.
- Ensure compliance with certified medication aide regulations.
- Medication pass observations for compliance with medication administration standards.
- Interaction with residents is key to the success of their medication regimen. We participate in Family Night and support Wellness programs.
LTAC Facilities/Respiratory Care Units
Residents in LTAC facilities are unique due to the nature of their condition. The majority of residents have multiple comorbidities and require ventilators, gastrostomy tubes, and are on dialysis. Due to the complexity of their medical illnesses, they are usually on multiple medications.
- Our consultant pharmacist reviews patient charts for drug-drug interactions and appropriate dosage through the medication regimen review process and provides recommendations to the appropriate disciplines and physicians.
- Medications are reviewed for appropriate administration.
- Laboratory levels are monitored closely due to the complexity of medications.
- Drugs and biological are checked for proper storage and handling.
Subacute Care Facilities/Transitional Care Units
Subacute and Transitional Care Units are comprehensive inpatient care facilities designed for residents with acute illness, injuries, or exacerbation of an illness. The consultant pharmacist frequently assesses the medication regimen to achieve positive therapeutic outcomes.
- Comprehensive medication regimens are performed monthly and as needed, with recommendations to the appropriate disciplines and medical staff.
- Medication administration systems are monitored for proper accountability, storage, and handling.
- Educate family, staff, and residents about medication therapies and related topics.
- Assess the staff on medication administration on a regular basis.
Remote Access Review
New Admissions must have their medication regimen reviewed within 48 hours per CMS guidelines to assess for drug interactions and appropriate medication administration.
- Our consultant pharmacist reviews the resident medication regimen via fax or remote access within the 48-hour time frame from admission or readmission.
- Interim Medication Regimen via remote access are completed upon request.
- Resident’s medication regimen reviews via remote access are comprehensive, with the opportunity to access a consultant pharmacist for discussion of the review.
Dialysis
The consultant pharmacist plays a significant role on the multidisciplinary renal-care team to manage the pharmacotherapy of the dialysis patient.
- Medication Regimen Reviews (MRR) are performed on a sample of patients.
- Inspection of medication areas are performed in all care areas.
- Medication management policies and procedures are updated as needed.
- Provide educational programs for the nursing staff on current issues and practices.
- Attend quarterly quality control meetings.
Clinical Research Systems Services
Medication Regimen Review
Our consultant pharmacists review the resident’s medical record for medication errors, inaccuracies in documentation, physician and nursing documentation, adverse drug reactions, and laboratory data. In addition, the pharmacist individualizes medication therapy based upon the resident’s disease state profile. Multiple medications can contribute to adverse effects, falls, and hospitalizations. Assessing the specific pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of medications can result in optimal therapy while reducing the risk of polypharmacy.
Remote Access Medication Reviews
Our consultants review the resident’s medication profile within 48 hours. Interim Medication Regimen Reviews are also available upon request. Our team is available to discuss the resident’s medication profile and appropriate therapy for the diagnoses presented.
Antibiotic Stewardship Program
Our Consultant Pharmacists trained in Antibiotic Stewardship can help you establish protocols and systems tailored to your facility to monitor antibiotic use and improve both clinical and economic outcomes. We provide educational programs and literature for your staff and residents, evaluate for proper antibiotic utilization for infectious diseases, monitor for antibiotic time outs, laboratory monitoring, and reduce the risk of multi-drug organisms.
Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Meetings and Antibiotic Stewardship Meetings
Our pharmacy consultants attend quarterly QAPI/Antibiotic Stewardship meetings and a report is presented by the pharmacist.
Medication Pass Observations
Nurses are monitored during medication pass to ensure compliance with standards of practice and educated on proper technique.
Psychotropic monitoring
CRS pharmacy consultants review resident behaviors, adverse events, nursing interventions, psychotropic dosage reductions, interdisciplinary consults, and notes for all residents receiving psychoactive medications.
Nursing Station Inspections
Nursing units are inspected monthly and as requested. Reports are given to nursing for correction, review, and education.
Educational Services
Clinical Research Systems provides educational services for your staff and residents depending on the needs of your facility.
Policy and Procedure
Policies and procedures are tailored to the facility and updated according to new and changing federal and state regulations, and industry standards.
Mock Surveys
Mock surveys are available upon request and give the facility the opportunity to see how well they would do during a state/federal survey. Policy and procedures are reviewed, resident medications are evaluated, incident/accidents reviewed, assess resident pain and management, psychotropics are checked for proper monitoring and dosage adjustments, medication passes are observed for accurate technique, as well as accountability and assessment of resident medication regimen responses. Staff is educated and plans of correction are implemented.
Audit Assessments
Our Senior Consultant Pharmacist reviews the medication record for inconsistencies and makes recommendations as necessary.