Medication management website to benefit Australians in nursing homes
The Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot has launched a website dedicated to assisting nursing staff and health professionals manage patient medication in Australia’s nursing homes.
It is recognised that older people are the largest users of medications. Medication management in nursing homes is a complex area as an estimated 98% of residents take at least one form of medication and 63% are taking four or more medicines.
The National Prescribing Service (NPS) produced the material for the website in conjunction with registered nurse participants from seven residential aged care facilities.
The website was developed following feedback from nurses working in nursing homes that highlighted difficulties in keeping up to date with relevant legislation, guidelines and toolkits that support medication management.
The NPS website addresses theses challenges and provides access to:
- Relevant Commonwealth and State legislation, for example Drug and Poisons Act;
- Guidelines and toolkits produced by authorities such as Nurses Boards in each State and;
- Communication channels allowing registered nurses from different facilities to discuss medication management issues
