Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR&D Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Enhancing Quality in Psychiatry with Psychiatrists (EQUIPP)--results from a pilot study.

Watson LC, Esserman DA, Ivey JL, Lewis CL, Hansen R, Weinberger M, Roth MT. Enhancing Quality in Psychiatry with Psychiatrists (EQUIPP)--results from a pilot study. The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. 2014 Sep 1; 22(9):884-8.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.
   Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions



Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: To pilot a pharmacist-led, patient centered medication management program. DESIGN: Prospective, single arm trial. SETTING: Academic geriatric psychiatry outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Outpatients at least 65 years old, proxy available if demented, and on two or more psychiatric medications. INTERVENTION: A clinical pharmacist completed a baseline medication review and made evidence-based recommendations that were implemented by the pharmacist after discussion with the physician. The pharmacist made a minimum of monthly contact for 6 months to review medications and related issues. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the change in number of medication related problems over time (3 and 6 months) as defined by a predetermined classification system. RESULTS: The mean age of the 27 patients was 75 years, 10 of whom required a proxy to participate. On average, patients had nine chronic conditions and were taking 14 medications. The mean number (SD; range) of medication related problems at baseline was 4.1 (2.2; 0-8) and at 3 and 6 months were 3.6 (2.4, 0-9) and 3.4 (2.1; 0-8), respectively. Most follow-up problems were new (80% and 89% at 3 and 6 months, respectively). CONCLUSION: Using a pharmacist to deliver a medication management program was feasible and addressed existing problems. New problems, however, developed over a short interval (3-6 months), suggesting that ongoing intervention is required.





Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.