What does "medication management" entail in nursing homes?

The concept of "medication management" in nursing homes is fundamentally about ensuring that residents receive their medications safely and effectively. This involves several critical responsibilities, including assessing the appropriateness of each medication, monitoring the residents for side effects, ensuring proper dosages are administered at the right times, and coordinating with healthcare providers to make necessary adjustments based on the residents' responses and health status.

Medication management encompasses a holistic view of the residents' pharmacological needs, prioritizing not just the dispensing of medication but also a comprehensive understanding of how each medication interacts with others and how they affect the overall health of each individual resident. It ensures that medications contribute positively to the residents' quality of life and helps prevent medication errors or adverse effects.

While issuing prescriptions, monitoring pharmacy inventory, and training staff are important activities related to medications, they do not fully encompass the broad and critical scope of ensuring that medications are used safely and effectively. Therefore, focusing on the overall process of medication management highlights its importance in promoting resident safety and health outcomes in nursing facilities.