Resource Kit to enable implementation of the APAC Guidelines for Medication Management in Residential Aged Care Facilities

Introduction

The Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council (APAC) has published `Guidelines for medication management in residential aged care facilities’ that assist residential aged care services to develop systems that support the quality use and administration of medicines.

Providers and staff of aged care services have many responsibilities to meet in ensuring that quality is evident in all aspects of an aged care service. Many services are relatively small in size and there are few key staff amongst whom the responsibility for the development and review of systems may be shared. This Resource Kit aims to assist services in adopting tools and knowledge to better anticipate and manage risks and to better deliver quality care by helping services to implement the recommendations of the APAC Guidelines. The kit will save time and resources by providing practical, easy to use tools and templates to assist implementation of the Guidelines.

The development of this Resource Kit was informed by consultation with a very wide range of people and organisations involved in aged care and health care.

In Victoria, the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act and Regulations set out the responsibilities of managers of residential aged care services in the settings where there are high care residents. The resource kit takes into account the 2006 changes to the legislation.

By utilising the resources contained within the resource kit, providers will support the quality use of medicines and quality medication outcomes for residential aged care services in Victoria.

The resource kit was developed specifically to support residential aged care providers in Victoria in meeting their responsibilities for medication management. Sufficient hard copies of the kit were made for each RACS in Victoria to have this resource and copies were initially distributed to RACS through information sessions that were provided across Victoria in late 2006.

It is recognised that many professionals working in aged care such as general practitioners, community pharmacists, allied health workers and training organisations may also benefit from access to the kit. Although it is not planned to make additional hard copies available, professionals and others may access the full information provided in the kit through this web site. While the kit was developed for Victorian services, it is based on national guidelines and will have applicability across Australia and potentially in other countries.

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Download Resource kit

Section A and B

Section A of the resource kit contains general information about the 14 APAC recommendations. Section B contains information relevant to each specific APAC recommendation. The examples contained within section B are provided as drafts and samples for RACS to adapt and tailor to the needs of their own organisation, based on the outcomes of quality audits.

Resource Kit to enable implementation of the APAC Guidelines for Medication Management in Residential Aged Care Facilities - September 2006 (620kb, pdf)

Section C

Section C of the resource kit provides electronic copies of the documents contained within the resource kit provided in word format so that RACS can adapt the examples and insert details specific to their own circumstances.

Sample letter to resident advocate and family members regarding medication management (A) (28kb, MS Word)

Sample letter to resident advocate and family members regarding medication management (B) (34kb, MS Word)

Sample invitation letter to General Practitioner (35kb, MS Word)

Sample letter to Pharmacist (30kb MS Word)

Draft policy for use of complementary therapy by residents (29kb, MS Word)

Draft policy for complementary and alternative therapies (30kb, MS Word)

Example of complementary therapies care plan (30kb, MS Word)

Sample letter to residents regarding complementary therapies (29kb, MS Word)

Sample letter for staff member (29kb, MS Word)

Example of Terms of Reference for MAC (32kb, MS Word)

Example Terms of Reference for regional MAC (35kb, MS Word)

Example Agenda for MAC (28kb, MS Word)

Example Minute Template for MAC (39kb, MS Word)

Example of medication chart audit (69kb MS Word)

Medication chart checklist (37kb MS Word)

Residential Medication Management Reviews Information for Aged Care Homes (89kb, pdf)

Residential Medication Management Reviews Information for General Practitioners (77kb, pdf)

Residential Medication Management Reviews Questions and Answers (100kb, pdf)

Sample policy and procedure for medication management (75kb MS Word)

Off-site administration of medication (30kb, MS Word)

Sample letter to GP seeking authority for list of nurse initiated medications (28kb, MS Word)

Example authority for list of nurse initiated medications (36kb, MS Word)

Guidelines for management of residents who administer their own medicines (self-administration) (28kb, MS Word)

Example of self-administration of medication assessment (70kb, MS Word)

Sample letter to resident regarding self-administration (31kb, MS Word)

Draft guidelines for modification of oral formulations (128kb, MS Word)

Sample of a Dose Administration Aid practice checklist (46kb, MS Word)

Sample of a Dose Administration Aid system checklist (41kb, MS Word)

The 14 APAC Recommendations (41kb, MS Word)

Audit tool and checklist (90kb, MS Word)

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Guidelines for medication management in residential aged care facilities

'Guidelines for medication management in residential aged care facilities’ (2002, 3rd Ed) are available for downloading at the Department of Health and Ageing website.

Training

Copies of the slides used during the education session regarding implementation of the APAC Guidelines for medication management. RACS are encouraged to use these to provide additional staff training.

Presentation - Resource Kit to enable implementation of the APAC Guidelines on Medication Management (633kb, pdf)

Handout - Resource Kit to enable implementation of the APAC Guidelines on Medication Management (494kb, pdf)

Further information

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Scaramozzino
Ph: (61 3) 9096 7113
Email: Andrew.Scaramozzino@dhs.vic.gov.au.

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