Reducing Adverse Drug Events

Reducing Adverse Drug Events  

Polypharmacy is the use of multiple medications and may contribute to adverse effects like depression, falls, memory loss, poor attention and language, motor vehicle accidents and even death. More than 50% of emergency room visits and 70% of seniors admitted to hospital for hip fractures were directly related to adverse medications. In a recent study that looked at patients who had fallen in care in the past year at the Red Deer Hospital, 97% were on at least one high risk medication known to be related to falls; the average was three. These adverse effects are likely reversible and preventable but difficult to detect.  

A partnership of the HRC and the Central Alberta Council on Aging is completing a project to reduce adverse medication effects. The project is funded by $25000 of support by the Collaborative Grant Research Initiative, Ministry of Seniors and AHS and has been reviewed by the Medical Advisory and Quality Management Committees ($25000). In this project, a new health practice model is examined where Trained Clinical Technicians (under the direct supervision of psychologists) combine an initial medication review with behavioural assessment to screen individuals for potential adverse medication effects. The study is being conducted in the Central Alberta Region.  

Current Status:

From May - September of 2010, the recruitment strategy developed with 7 central Alberta physicians failed to generate any referrals for participants. Sophia Christoforakis, AHS Research and Evaluation Officer, assisted to develop a participant recruitment strategy with AHS Homecare Services in Red Deer, Innisfail and Lacombe. Pansy Angevine (Program Manager, Specialty Programs Seniors Health) and Marie Rusk (Area Manager, Seniors Health) established that beginning in October of 2010, all new homecare clients meeting inclusion criteria will be referred to our project for review. Four program in-services were delivered to homecare nursing staff; two in Red Deer and one in each of Lacombe and Innisfail.  

Advisory Team:

• Scott Oddie - RDC Rural Health Research Chair
• Ed Ertl - AHS-CZ Pharmacist Advisor
• Kim Goddard - Clinical Psychology, University of Alberta Hospital
• Dr. Peter Wass - Registered Clinical Neuropsychologist and Associate Professor, Canadian University College, Lacombe
• Dr. Lawrence Olfert - Rural Physician and Alberta Medical Association Steering Committee Member
• Renette Bertholet - Pharmacist Consultant
• Colin Oddie - Retired Pharmacist and Hospital Administrator
• Shirley Thomas - Retired Nurse and Clinical Instructor
• Dawn Parent - Council member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta, Ministry of Seniors and Community Supports
• Student Team Members: Natascha Onyszchuk, Alex Kennedy, Sarah MacDonald, Brittany McIntyre, Jarrett Fullerton, Enrique Turios, Sherri Dayday, Stephanie Caras, Lindsey Helmer

For more information contact: Dr. Scott Oddie or phone 403-342-3310.