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This eLearning programme gives an overview of polypharmacy, tools that can be used when managing and supporting patients on multiple medicines and the role of the pharmacist.
The focus of this programme is to provide pharmacists with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to assist patients and advise prescribers, to maximise the benefits and minimise the harms of taking multiple medications.
Case studies and clinical scenarios will be included to demonstrate best practice and to encourage application of leanings.
The intended audience is qualified pharmacists practicing in Ireland in both community and hospital settings.
Following completion of this training programme, learners will be able to:
- Describe what polypharmacy is
- Recognise appropriate and inappropriate polypharmacy
- Describe how polypharmacy can occur
- Describe the types of Medication Review, their role and their limitations
- Describe tools that can be used to identify potentially inappropriate prescribing/polypharmacy
- Outline some high-risk medication classes and the circumstances in which their potential harms might outweigh benefits
- Work in partnership with the patient, educating patients to optimise complex medication regimens and minimise the potential for adverse outcomes and to sign post patients to other services where appropriate
- Undertake patient-centred discussions about polypharmacy, prioritise interventions and agree referral strategies as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Signpost to Existing Resources and Toolkits.