An ongoing discussion and multidisciplinary effort
“Medications can easily pile [up],” Cocohoba said, “so it’s important for clinicians to regularly review medication lists with patients to see if maybe they aren’t using certain agents anymore.” Another reason for clinicians to periodically review medication lists is to make certain they are aware of agents being prescribed by the patient’s other health care providers.
Polypharmacy is the responsibility of everyone on the health care team, both prescribers and nonprescribers, such as social workers and case managers, explained Cocohoba. “If ever there was a health care problem that could use an interdisciplinary approach, polypharmacy is it.”