2023 Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages 59-63
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential benefits arising from pharmacists accompanying doctors during their rounds in long-term care insured facilities for the elderly. Based on the medical records, the pharmaceutical content provided to physicians, medication history of residents, and residents’ level of care were analyzed. There were 157 interventions related to drug reduction that contributed to polypharmacy decrease. These interventions were maintained for six months and led to a cost reduction of approximately 1.67 million yen. Furthermore, one year after these interventions, a trend toward positive correlation was recorded between the improvement in residents’ level of care and the decrease in the number of medications taken. Overall, this study highlighted that pharmacists attending consultant-led rounds at long-term care insured facilities for the elderly was advantageous with regards to reducing polypharmacy and pharmaceutical costs.
