Charles Helm and Charissa Tonnesen
To our senior patients in Tumbler Ridge.
If you are 65 or older, and taking five or more medications, then please read on, and decide if we may be able to assist you. We have secured special funding for the next twelve months to try to help people who may be taking too many medications, or who are suffering unwanted side-effects or drug interactions. We may also be able to help people who find the costs of medications overwhelming. Our colleagues in Dawson Creek and Chetwynd will be offering the same assistance to their communities, including people living in long-term care facilities and after people are discharged from hospital.
We aim for you to take the appropriate number of medications that have been shown to work. In some cases, achieving this goal may involve safely decreasing the number of medications you or your loved ones are taking, or the doses. This may make it more convenient to take them.
We recognize that medications are prescribed initially for what seem like good reasons at the time. But over time many people end up on a multitude of medications, with many unintended consequences. The result, known as ‘polypharmacy’, is recognized internationally as a major health care problem, especially in seniors. If we succeed in our goal, we hope you will feel healthier, both physically and mentally. You may save some money, as well.
Here are three ways you can see us for a consultation /medication review, which will last under an hour and can be done virtually if appropriate:
- Your family physician can refer you to see us.
- Charissa or Nay at the Tumbler Ridge Pharmacy can note that you meet the criteria (65 or over, on five or more medications) and ask if you would like to have us review your case.
- You may self-refer by calling Charissa at the Tumbler Ridge Pharmacy at 250 242 3333, and we will set up an appointment. We ask you to bring your spouse, another family member, or close friend with you if possible.
There will be no charge to you for this service. After a thorough review, we will make recommendations to your family physician on your medication list, which you can discuss with the prescriber. We may ask your permission to use unidentifiable information from your case to help teach other doctors and pharmacists how to do careful medication reviews – you are free, of course, to decline this request.
Funding for this project comes from the Shared Care Committee, which is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health and Doctors of BC. The funding flows through the South Peace Division of Family Practice.
As a team we hope to help many people in this situation over the next year, and to make a long-term positive impact on health care delivery for seniors in the South Peace. Please consider allowing us to help you!
