Pharmacy Technicians on the Road to Regulation Focus on ...

geriatric report
elderly patients with renal impairment. The importance
of utilizing a pharmacist in establishing and adjusting the
dosages of medications for ill elderly patients cannot be
overemphasized.
• The hospital should develop and institute a professional
practice policy to identify medications requiring careful
clinical monitoring at the time of discharge from the intensive
care unit. The importance of direct physician to
physician communication as part of this policy cannot be
overemphasized.
• Health care professionals should be reminded of the
importance of monitoring medications prescribed in the
elderly. Even when medications such as analgesics are
required in the elderly, toxic side effects may still occur.
• Health care professionals should be reminded that the
commonly prescribed oral hypoglycaemic medication Glyburide
may cause hypoglycaemia in the elderly even in the
presence of frequently high blood sugars.
• Health care professionals should be reminded that the
abrupt discontinuation of beta blockers should be done
with extreme caution.
The complete list of recommendations and case reviews
are available on the website of the Ontario Ministry of Community
Safety and Corrections at www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca
Select “Chief Coroner” then “Publications and Reports.”
16 pharmacyconnection • May/June 2010