Author: Don Melady
Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) Guide
Here is an outline for a script that any health care provider can use in the ED to ensure an accurate medication history — before discharge or before admission: Introduction – Introduce self and prof...Read More
Ten Practical Tips for a Best Possible Medication History
Be proactive. Gather as much information as possible prior to seeing the patient. Include primary medication histories, provincial database information, and medications vials/ lists. Prompt questions...Read More
Tips and Tools for Medication Management in Smaller EDs
Patient engagement Encourage and offer tools to patients and caregivers to help them manage their medications. Knowledge is the best medicine is a program that helps people take control of their heal...Read More
A Senior-Friendly ED Checklist
A. Staffing A physician champion or medical director with some focussed education specifically relevant to the provision of emergency care of older people should be identified by administration. An i...Read More
A Pharmacist’s Role in the Senior-friendly ED
Why is medication reconciliation in older adults important? As people age, many develop a progressively complex mix of health conditions that require a growing number of medications to prevent the de...Read More
Quality Improvement Metrics
Here are some outcome measures you might want to consider in tracking your quality improvement activities relating to senior-friendly care. The ED should track metrics for structures, processes, and ...Read More
A Rationale for a “Hold Overnight” Policy for Frail Older Patients
The Rationale Older patients often have non-specific presentations that raise complex medical and psychosocial questions relating to etiology and safe disposition. Falls and changes in behavior, such...Read More
An Approach to Using an Inter-disciplinary Geriatric Assessment Team in the ED
A Rationale for a “Hold Overnight” Policy for Complex Older Patients Elderly patients often have non-specific presentations that raise complex medical and psychosocial questions relating to etiology ...Read More
Nurse-Led Geriatric Case Management – the GEM Nurse Role
For more about GEM, visit the Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto’s Geriatric Emergency Management website. This post is modified from material provided by the Regional Geriatric Programme of...Read More
Just the Basics: Policies, Procedures & Protocols
Here is a list of potential improvements you could make in any ED to make it more senior-friendly. Start with the easy ones (on no budget) and progress from there. Where there are examples on this si...Read More
Just the Basics: Physical Environment & Equipment
Here is a checklist of basic changes and enhancements that can be done with minimal expenditure or changes. The easy ones are first; the harder, more expensive ones are later Equipment and Supplies E...Read More
