About the artist: The month's cover art, "Floral" and "Blue Vase," were both painted in oil by Biz Johnson, a resident of The Fairfax, a retirement community in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
FEATURES
p.r.n. Orders: When Does the Danger Outweigh the Convenience
Jeanette Y. Wick
The author offers some points to ponder concerning the sometimes casual use of ordering drugs as needed in a long-term care setting. Some of those points may surprise you.
Clinical Pharmacy Initiatives: Large LTC Providers Set the Pace
Vicki Meade
High-tech software, well-developed disease-management programs, finely tuned formulary management, innovative wellness programs: Providers of long-term care pharmacy services are making bold strides on the clinical side of consultant pharmacy in a move toward better resident outcomes.
1999 New Drug Review: Exciting New Options for Senior Care
Tom Frank
With the recent introduction of a couple of revolutionary drugs, there are exciting new choices for optimal treatment of a variety of conditions seen in the elderly. Here's a quick rundown of the newest drugs in the senior care armamentarium.
|
C O N T E N T S
May 1999
Volume 14, Number 5
Research and Reports
Evaluation of Sleep Disorders in Nursing Facilities
Gena W. Cramer, Robert J. Chaponis, Steven Bauwens, Thomas Chamberlain
Are sleep disorders being optimally managed in nursing facilities? Results of this study demonstrated inadequate documentation in the patient's record as well as a lack of nonpharmacologic treatment, a reliance on sedative-hypnotics, and frequent inappropriate choices of agents and duration of use.
Clinical Review
Valproate for Management of Agitation and Aggression in the Elderly: A Literature Review
Phyllis M. Parks-Veal
A growing body of evidence is showing valproate to be an effective medication for behavior disturbances in the elderly-in particular, agitation and aggression.
|