Medication Review Tool
G‐MEDSS tool provides a person-centred approach to medication reviews
A new tool has been developed that allows healthcare practitioners to have a coordinated approach to identifying inappropriate polypharmacy in older adults. It facilitates a person-centred approach to medication management that align with the care goals of the person.
The Goal-directed Medication review Electronic Decision Support System (G-MEDSS©), is a web-based tool (available at https://www.gmedss.com) designed for healthcare practitioners to manage older people with and without dementia who are taking multiple medications and experiencing adverse effects from them.
G-MEDSS, a clinical decision support system (CCDSS), was developed in a five-year project led by Professor Sarah Hilmer and Dr Lisa Kouladjian O’Donnell (based at the University of Sydney). It incorporates three validated tools that guide patient–centred medication review:
- The Goals of Care Management Tool assists healthcare practitioners to identify and record residents’ goals and preferences for medications;
- The Drug Burden Index Calculator© measures the cumulative exposure to medications with anticholinergic and sedative effects;
- The revised Patients’ Attitudes Towards Deprescribing (rPATD) questionnaire explores patients’ attitudes, beliefs and experiences regarding their medications and how they would feel about ceasing one or more of them.
The use of G-MEDSS may assist in the compliance with the Aged Care Quality Standards requirement for goal-directed pharmaceutical care by incorporating the goals of consumers and a coordinated approach among aged care staff.