Minimising medication to optimise wellbeing
Every month at HBH a dedicated team gets together to undertake a medication review. Director of Nursing, Chris Dunlop, leads the review and is accompanied by the General Practitioners, Pharmacist and Registered Nurse from HBH, along with a Geriatrician from Middlemore Hospital. The review process was introduced by a Middlemore Geriatrician and has been running for more than ten years. Six to eight residents have their medication reviewed each month along with any residents requiring urgent attention.
Chris says the focus at each review is the residents and how their medication can be minimised. “The big question we ask is what can we reduce?” The ideas are shared with the residents and their families before any changes are implemented. Conducting the reviews monthly is important to Chris and her team. “Everything we do is based on providing excellent care that puts the residents’ needs first.” Review time comes around quickly each month, but Chris says it is an enjoyable process. “It’s a way that we work together – both within our team at HBH and with our colleagues at Middlemore.”
