Medication Optimization

Medication Optimization refers to a wide variety of technologies designed to help manage medication information, dispensing, adherence, and tracking. Technologies range from the more complex, fully integrated devices that use information and communication technologies to inform and remind stakeholders at multiple decision and action points throughout the patient care process to the simpler, standalone devices with more limited functionality. Both standalone and integrated technologies will continue in their adoption and development as technologies expand in both variety and sophistication.

Center For Technology and Aging's First-Ever Technology Diffusion Grants Will Help Spread the Use of Vital Medication Optimization Technologies

1/05/10

The Center for Technology and Aging announced grants to five organizations for projects that promise to help improve medication use in older adults with chronic health conditions. Each project involves the use of one or more technologies in a coordinated effort with patients, families and caregivers – such as pharmacists, home health agency staff, and physicians – to help improve the independence of older adults as well as to avoid medication-related issues that potentially result in harm, hospitalization or higher health care costs.

Position Paper: Technologies for Optimizing Medication Use in Older Adults

10/21/09

While medications are widely appreciated, commonly used, and help many older adults lead longer, healthier, and more productive lives, there is still great room for medication use improvement. The paper provides an overview of the medication use process and discusses three areas of opportunity for medication optimization (medication reconciliation, adherence and monitoring). Medication optimization technologies are then discussed, including example technologies that are used by patients and caregivers to improve self-management of care and enhance communication of medication information to clinicians. The technologies mentioned in this report should be viewed as a limited sample and not an exhaustive list.

The final position paper has been released.

Position Paper (Discussion Draft): Technologies for Optimizing Medication Use in Older Adults

9/01/09

The Discussion Draft of the paper is being circulated for comments. A final version will be issued in October 2009. Comments on the Discussion Draft should be emailed to Lynn Redington at lredington@techandaging.org