National Prescribing Curriculum

Polypharmacy

Provide care for an elderly patient admitted to hospital with multi-organ failure. They are prescribed multiple medicines for various comorbidities which have contributed to the presentation.

  • Cost: free

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Polypharmacy
 

About

The National Prescribing Curriculum (NPC) is a series of interactive case-based modules that encourage confident and rational prescribing. The modules follow a stepwise approach as outlined in the WHO's Guide to Good Prescribing.

In this module you will provide care for an elderly patient admitted to hospital with multi-organ failure. They are prescribed multiple medicines for various comorbidities which have contributed to the presentation.

 

Learning objectives

On completion of this module, you should be able to:

  • recognise inappropriate use of medicines and medicine adverse effects
  • describe the important aspects of medication review
  • understand the importance of obtaining an accurate medication history from patients upon admission to hospital
  • identify the important components of hospital discharge, including the provision of information to the patient and health professionals responsible for the patient’s care.
 

Resources

Prescribing Competencies Framework
The Prescribing Competencies Framework describes the competencies that health professionals require to prescribe medicines judiciously, appropriately, safely and effectively in the Australian healthcare system