Reducing Polypharmacy Essay Discussion Paper

Introduction

Polypharmacy (marked by the administration of more than one drug concurrently) is proven to have detrimental effects, with older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) having the most risks. The problem is complex but requires careful treatment, with the main emphasis on palliative and hospice care (McNeil et al 2016)Reducing Polypharmacy Essay Discussion Paper.

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Local-Level Interventions

The APNs can apply multiple techniques to solve polypharmacy at the local level. They can complete full reviews of patients’ current medications, taking into account interactions with other drugs, possible duplications, and therapy appropriateness. Working with interdisciplinary teams, along with the pharmacist and the physician, encourages collecting a background history and instituting holistic management of the drugs. Besides patient education that encompasses the meaning of adherence to medications and the dangers of polypharmacy, adherence can affect a person’s ability to engage actively in their care.

State-Level Advocacy

State-level actions may include active policy engagement to advance applicable deprescribing practices and ensure patients are on the best possible medications. APNs, for example, can engage legislation and initiate activities to improve deprescribing resources, support and reimbursement for medication reviews and medication therapy management services. Moreover, incorporating deprescribing guidelines into state health policy will promote the adoption of a unified method towards polypharmacy recycling in all sizes of healthcare settings.

National-Level Leadership

At the national level, APNs are undertaking a significant job of formulating healthcare policies and guidelines. In this regard, patients can develop evidence-based deprescribing protocols and push for their universal adoption by the medical fraternity. Networking with reputable organizations, including the American Nurses Association and the American Geriatrics Society, facilitates APNs to push for national advocacy goals on eliminating medication errors and polypharmacy management Reducing Polypharmacy Essay Discussion Paper.

Strategies in Chronic Illness Management

Chronic disease care in the outpatient setting requires APNs to deal with multiple medications at a time under close monitoring necessary for good results. These entail reducing the burden associated with medication use by having one dosing schedule, prioritizing treatments based on goals of therapy, and considering non-pharmacological methods as therapeutic options where necessary. Shared decision-making with clients and caregivers helps with a collaborative care plan being put in place where patient preference is respected by considering patient values in medication management.

Polypharmacy in Palliative and Hospice Care

The purposes of palliative care and hospice services, in turn, revolve around reducing the residual symptoms and boosting the quality of life instead of concentrating on intensive disease treatment (Halli-Tierny et al., 2019)Reducing Polypharmacy Essay Discussion Paper. The emphasis is placed on multidisciplinary coordination to undertake thorough medication reconciliation, highlight medications with limited benefit or harm potentials, and prescription descriptions following patient-centered goals.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

These issues are also addressed by limiting polypharmacy and raising ethical and legal considerations. APNs encounter problems with obtaining informed consent, respecting the autonomy of the patient and being accountable for the duty of care when deprescribing patient’s medication use, especially when discontinuation of the medication may lead to harm. Staying connected with the patients, relatives, and healthcare providers brings about greater transparency and shared verdicts during the deprescribing process, improving participation and understanding, which paves the way for better care.

Conclusion

Finally, the work that must be done on addressing polypharmacy in palliative and hospice care is a comprehensive approach which involves APNS on a local, state, and national level. Through advocacy for the guidance of an evidence-based deprescribing approach, in support of medication optimization strategy, and by taking up the ethical and legal joys of the process, APNs play a vital role in ensuring safer medication usage, yet on a higher level of care (Dailah, 2024)Reducing Polypharmacy Essay Discussion Paper.

261196__Polypharmacy-Evaluating_66257b9b0af44.pdf

References

Dailah, H. G. (2024, January). The Influence of Nurse-Led Interventions on Diseases Management in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review. In Healthcare (Vol. 12, No. 3, p. 352). MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/3/352

Halli-Tierney, A. D., Scarbrough, C., & Carroll, D. (2019). Polypharmacy: evaluating risks and deprescribing. American family physician, 100(1), 32-38. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0701/p32.html

McNeil, M. J., Kamal, A. H., Kutner, J. S., Ritchie, C. S., & Abernethy, A. P. (2016). The burden of polypharmacy in patients near the end of life. Journal of pain and symptom management, 51(2), 178-183. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885392415004819 Reducing Polypharmacy Essay Discussion Paper

Medicines are meant to help, not harm. But sometimes taking too many drugs can be dangerous, especially for older adults.

The use of multiple drugs to treat diseases and other health conditions is known as polypharmacy. This is a growing concern for older adults. Polypharmacy is more common among older adults, many of whom have multiple chronic conditions (MCC), defined as two or more chronic conditions such as arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, depression, diabetes, and hypertension. But taking too many drugs can lead to safety concerns.

Your active participation in the discussions is essential to your overall success this term. Discussion questions will help you make meaningful connections between the course content and the larger concepts of the course. These discussions give you a chance to express your own thoughts, ask questions, and gain insight from your peers and instructor Reducing Polypharmacy Essay Discussion Paper.

Read: Deprescribing at End Of Life.pdf Download Deprescribing at End Of Life.pdf
Read: The burden of polypharmacy in patients near end of life.pdf
Read: Polypharmacy_Evaluating.pdf
Prompt

What are the obstacles to implementing palliative care and what can the advanced practice nurse do in his/her role to remove these barriers at various levels of practice (local, state, national)?

Explain the methods of care to reduce polypharmacy. Include considerations in chronic illness (CO3)
Discuss how to reduce polypharmacy in cases of palliative and hospice care (CO3)
Analyze the ethical, and legal considerations when reducing polypharmacy. Reducing Polypharmacy Essay Discussion Paper