Fundamentals of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy: An Evidence-based Approach - Softcover

Hutchinson, Lisa C.; Sleeper-Irons, Rebecca

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1585282286 ISBN 13: 9781585282289

Publisher: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 2010

Synopsis

The number of seniors in the U.S. is expected to double by the year 2030. Currently, the elderly account for 12.7% of the U.S. population, but consume 34% of the total prescriptions-and these numbers are sure to increase enormously over the next few decades. Pharmacists will be greatly affected by this rapidly expanding geriatric population, and they will certainly be called on to offer much-needed expertise. This new textbook, Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, provides thorough coverage on therapeutic and social issues affecting elderly patients. The book is divided into two sections; the first section addresses general concepts about aging and the second section is organized by both organ system and disease states common in the elderly. These chapters contain a short summary of treatment in normal adults, and then focus on an evidence-based review of treatment in elderly patients.

About this title

Review

Although a number of textbooks for geriatric medicine are available, few resources focus on geriatric pharmacotherapy. Similarly, the most commonly used pharmacy texts may have just one chapter, if any, on geriatrics, and the most recent edition of "Therapeutics in the Elderly "was published in 2003 (by HarveyWhitney Books Company). This situation makes the new text edited by Hutchinson and Sleeper particularly valuable for current pharmacy practice. The book is divided into 2 sections. The first section, entitled "Social, Ethical, and Economic Issues of Aging," tackles issues such as challenges in geriatric care, care-giving, decision making, and end-of-life care. Other textbooks in geriatrics provide comprehensive reviews of all of the topics. "Fundamentals""of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy "provides summaries that are brief, but current and relevant. For example, the topic of elder abuse is condensed to 1 page. The second section, entitled "General Biomedical and Pharmacotherapy Issues," contains 14 chapters. The first 4 of these chapters relate to general geriatric practice (e.g. geriatric assessment), and the remaining chapters relate to specific systems or specialties (e.g., cardiology). Each chapter opens with learning objectives and definitions. References are included at the end of each chapter, in contrast to some of the leading geriatric texts, which provide only brief bibliographies. At the end of each chapter, there is a set of self-assessment questions, which vary in format. Chapter summaries and clinical pearls are also included. What makes this text stand out is its use of case studies and application of information throughout each chapter. The case studies are complex and realistic, each covering 1 to 2 pages. A summary of each case is included, and key learning points are highlighted. The cases involve settings such as continuing care centres and conditions such as urinary incontinence, cachexia, dysphagia, and sensory impairment. These are common geriatric challenges that are rarely addressed in general pharmacy texts. Most of the content is specific to the elderly population, but some chapters include general information, such as categories of adverse events, a list of abbreviations that should not be used, or the epidemiology of disease states for the general population. These topics should be familiar to most pharmacists or could be obtained from other general practice texts. Readers might find it challenging to locate some of the information in the book. For example, vaccination is covered in the respiratory chapter (there is no infectious diseases chapter), erectile dysfunction appears under endocrinology (rather than urology), and the topic of pain is covered in several different chapters. The editors and most of the authors are well-known experts in geriatrics. As can be expected for a book published by ASHP, the editors and authors are US practitioners, and the anticipated audience is American. Only US guidelines are referenced, and the book does not use SI units. However, international literature is cited throughout the text. Practitioners will find the text easy to navigate. The content focuses on therapeutics, and pharmacists will sense that they represent the primary audience. The text will be useful for teaching, both in the classroom and in practice. For those already working in geriatrics, the book will provide a useful overview. This text, surprisingly inexpensive, would be a valuable resourcefor any health professional in geriatrics, particularly pharmacists.Cheryl A Sadowski, BSc(Pharm), PharmD, FCSHPFaculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmonton, Alberta --Cheryl A Sadowski, BSc(Pharm), PharmD, FCSHP"Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy" (01/15/2011)

About the Author

Lisa HutchisonBrief Biographical Sketch Lisa Hutchison earned her BS pharmacy (1982) and her PharmD (1983) at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences in Memphis. In 1984, she completed a Pharmacy Residency at Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She earned her MPH (2001) from the University of South Florida College of Public Health in Tampa and is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist since 1992. Dr. Hutchison was the Education and Quality Management Coordinator for the Little Rock VA Medical Center. Following this she was employed as the Assistant Director for Clinical Affairs at Florida Hospital in Orlando, FL. Currently she is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacist at the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. In 1993, Dr. Hutchison won the Award for Achievement in the Professional Practice of Pharmacy in Organized Health Care Settings from the American Society of Healthsystems Pharmacy for the publication 'Clinical privileges for pharmacists.' In 2008, the American Pharmacists Association recognized her with the Distinguished Achievement Award in Hospital and Institutional Practice. She has served as Chair-Elect and Chair of the Geriatrics Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and was named a fellow of this organization in 2008. Rebecca B. Sleeper, PharmD, FASCP, BCPS Dr. Sleeper is the Division Head of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy's Geriatrics Division in the Department of Pharmacy Practice. She received her PharmD from the University of Rhode Island and Specialty Residency training in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy from TTUHSC School of Pharmacy In Amarillo. Following this, she joined the faculty at the TTUHSC School of Pharmacy's Lubbock campus in 1999. She became a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist in 2000 and a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists in 2002. Dr. Sleeper has developed consulting and collaborative drug therapy management services in long-term care, assisted living, and skilled facilities and is currently a consultant pharmacist at the Mildred and Shirley L. Garrison Geriatric Education and Care Center, a teaching nursing facility on the TTUHSC campus. Dr. Sleeper has been the recipient of multiple preceptor of the year and teaching team of the year awards for Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Clerkships and Neurosensory coursework. In 2002 she was awarded the Texas Society of Health System Pharmacist's New Pharmacist Award and is a Past Chair of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy's Geriatrics Practice and Research Network.

Edition details

• Publisher: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1585282286
• ISBN 13: 9781585282289
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 350