Series Description: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a leading cause of injury and avoidable harm in health care systems. “Unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a leading cause of injury and avoidable harm in health care systems. Medication errors occur when weak medication systems and/or human factors such as fatigue, poor environmental conditions or staff shortages affect prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring practices, which can then result in severe harm, disability and even death.” Nursing home teams, prescribers, pharmacists, admission and discharge planners, and many others across the care continuum share a common goal to improve patient outcomes. Let’s come together to achieve the highest level of results. During our time together we have lined up experts to share key information on a new topic for each session focusing on improving care coordination practices that support high-risk medication management, resident safety and quality of care. Please note: This event is part of a series, and each event topic and associated dates can be found below.

3/8/23 Event Description: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Partnership to Improve Dementia Care encourages person-centered approaches to reducing the off-label use of antipsychotic medications for persons living with dementia. Join Denise Hyde, PharmD, a Community Builder from The Eden Alternative®, who will discuss the impact of medications on elders. She will discuss reframing “problem behaviors” as unmet needs and share successful person-centered strategies to understand and alleviate a person’s distress without relying on medication.

Objectives: Objectives of this event include:

• Explain why medication is not the only remedy for elders who may experience distress when their needs are not met
• Describe at least two person-centered strategies that can alleviate an elder’s distress

ECHO® Session Dates and Topics:

• Session 1: 1/25/23 – Regs and Meds and Errors – Oh My!
• Session 2: 2/8/23 – Adverse Drug Events
• Session 3: 2/22/23 – Behavioral Support for Residents in a LTC Setting
• Session 4: 3/8/23 – Beyond Meds: Meeting the Needs of Elders
• Session 5: 3/22/23 – Gradual Dose Reduction for High-Risk Medications
• Session 6: 4/12/23 – Communication Across the Care Continuum
• Session 7: 4/26/23 – Communicating with Residents and Families

Audience: Nursing homes, medical directors, prescribing clinicians, pharmacy consultants and hospital discharge planners. We welcome anyone who supports long-term care providers with prescribing and reducing high risk medications, behavioral management and care coordination to improve the lives of nursing home residents.

About the ECHO® Model: The ECHO® Model is an “all teach, all learn” approach to disseminate and implement best practices across diverse disciplines. The mission of the ECHO® Model is to make knowledge accessible at the right time. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Gina Anderson at ganderson@telligen.com

*After the event, you can request presentation slides and other resources by emailing QIConnect@telligen.com.

In Collaboration With: