For medicine to be effective and safe, it has to be taken properly. This can be
difficult even with just a single prescription. It can become even more of a challenge with age. A
2016 survey by Harvard researchers found that almost four in 10 people over age 65 now use
five or more medications. That’s a 70 percent increase in just over 12 years. The risk of taking
medicine improperly is especially great for seniors, and the consequences can be severe: One
in six hospital admissions of older adults are due to an adverse drug event – four times the
proportion for younger adults, according to an analysis.
This is an issue that Kaiser Permanente is taking on from multiple fronts. Kaiser Permanente
uses technology and integrated care to protect patients from errors and ensure they are getting
the most benefit from the medications they take. Physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other
care providers have access to continually updated information on all medications prescribed to
the patient. The medical record and other technology platforms also provide alerts about
medications that need to be monitored for negative interactions and dosing that appears to be
outside of recommended ranges.
Kaiser Permanente clinicians also help patients learn strategies to stay healthy, and here are
some of the best tips from Kaiser Permanente geriatric pharmacist Yasming Chui:
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized
as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for- profit health plans. Founded in
1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services
and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve
11.7 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and
patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Groupphysicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are
empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health
promotion, disease prevention, state-of- the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease
management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health
education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.
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