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Medication Safety Program
Since early 2005, Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital has been working with nearly 20 organizations to increase medication safety among local frail and elderly people. Support for the pilot program, titled “Using Information Technology to Improve Medication Safety for Rural Elders” came from a $1.5 million, three-year grant from the federal government’s Agency for Health Research and Quality, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Grant funds are used to develop an information system to connect the hospital with area pharmacies, physician clinics, and senior care facilities. The goal is to produce a single, shared medication record that supports prescribing, dispensing, and administering medications. This should result in fewer medication errors, and improved health and quality of life for the area’s chronically ill older people.
The program focuses on those living in assisted living or skilled nursing facilities because they are at greater risk for medication-related problems due to their advanced age and frailty, and because they often take high-risk medications and see a number of health care providers. Rural residents will be targeted because their health services traditionally are more limited.
The research project is the work of a partnership of nearly 20 organizations, including Samaritan Health Services, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), and local community and health care organizations. Administrative support comes from the Oregon Rural Practice Based Research Network (based at OHSU with a local office in Lincoln City). Scientific expertise is available through OHSU’s faculty in computer science, informatics, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and epidemiology.
Lincoln City internist Karl Ordelheide, who helped develop the grant proposal and who leads the project locally, said: “Physician groups, hospitals, and other health care organizations often provide care without the benefit of complete information about a patient’s condition, medical history, services provided in other settings, or medications provided by other clinicians. We believe this project will make a positive impact on the overall health of those participating and will have long-term positive ramifications.”
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