Reducing Adverse Drug Events in the Elderly
Adverse drug events disproportionately affect patients over the age of 65 across all healthcare settings, including hospitals, ambulatory care, and long-term care facilities. DFMC is working with healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders in communities across Maryland to reduce and prevent adverse drug events. Our goal is to reduce emergency room visits and hospital readmissions, and to improve health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries. Pharmacists play a vital role in reducing avoidable hospital readmissions. Learn more about this initiative.
Recent studies show that more than 15% of Medicare beneficiaries are readmitted within 30 days of discharge at an estimated cost of $12 billion annually. Interventions to improve handoffs between hospitals, physician practices, nursing homes, and others along the continuum of care are well documented. DFMC is working on community-based care transition programs around the state. Learn more about this initiative.