PT, PTA, OT, OTA, SLP – this podcast may help you meet your continuing education requirements. Access Relias Academy to review course certificate information.  
Are you concerned your patient may be taking too many medications or the wrong medication? Do you know which medications to be most concerned about and how to communicate your concerns to your patient’s healthcare provider? In this episode, we talk with Aimee Perron, PT, DPT about best practices in rehab therapists' management of polypharmacy with practical applications of concepts using real patient examples.
 
(01:29) Top Three Take-Aways of Today’s Topic
(02:12) The Definition of Polypharmacy
(04:14) Who Is at Risk for Polypharmacy?
(06:22) Overuse, Underuse, or Misuse
(07:52) Prescribing Cascade
(10:49) Adverse Drug Reactions
(11:55) Delirium
(13:42) Common Medications that Require Frequent Monitoring
(20:00) Patient Presentation: Side Effects or Aging?
(23:35) What Is the Therapist’s Role?
(25:34) What are Key Questions for Therapists to Consider?
(35:30) Red Flag Medication Classes
(41:20) What Is Deprescribing and Is It Common Practice?
(43:24) Case Example: How Therapists Can Help with Deprescribing
(47:36) How to Have a Conversation with Your Patient’s Provider
(51:15) Are Over-the-Counter Medications a Concern?
(52:14) Tips for Success
(54:00) Conclusion
The content for this course was created by Aimee E. Perron, PT, DPT.
The content for this course was created by Wendy Phillips, PT, BSPT.
Here is how Relias can help you earn continuing education credits: 
Access your Relias Library offered by your employer to see course certificate information and exam;  
or  
Access the continuing education library for clinicians at Relias Academy. Review the course certificate information, and if eligible, you can purchase the course to access the course exam and receive your certificate. 
Learn more about Relias at www.relias.com.   
Legal Disclaimer: The content of Stretch: Relias Rehab Therapy Education is provided only for educational and training purposes for healthcare professionals. The educational material provided in this podcast should not be used as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. 
Resources 
Age-Friendly Health Systems: The 4Ms:
http://www.ihi.org/Engage/Initiatives/Age-Friendly-Health-Systems/Pages/default.aspx 
 
American Geriatrics Society Publications & Tools:
https://www.americangeriatrics.org/publications-tools 
 
Choosing Wisely: American Society of Health - System Pharmacists:
https://www.choosingwisely.org/clinician-lists/ashp-prescribing-medication-for-patients-on-five-or-more-meds/ 
 
Deprescribing.org:
https://deprescribing.org/ 
 
SBAR Tool: Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation:
http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Tools/SBARToolkit.aspx
 
STOPP - START Tools:
https://www.cgakit.com/m-2-stopp-start 
 
The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM):
https://geriatrictoolkit.missouri.edu/cog/Confusion-Assessment-Method-delirium.pdf