June M McKoy, MD, MPH, JD, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N. St. Clair, Suite 2-272, Chicago, IL 60611, (312) 695-4960, j-mckoy@northwestern.edu

In November 2003, the United States Congress passed groundbreaking legislation that will fundamentally transform the Medicare system. This unprecedented legislation includes a comprehensive Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Plan, which will profoundly impact physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who provide care to older patients. As a result of such recent changes, various clinical, regulatory, and policy aspects of the impact of pharmaceuticals on the elderly's environment must be considered.

This session will be part one of a dual session focus. This session will focus on the clinical management of drug-use in the elderly for the practicing physician and/or health professional, followed by a brief overview and discussion of the impact of the new prescription drug legislation on the elderly patient. The session will discuss adverse drug events common to seniors, such as drug-drug interactions, overdosing, and inappropriate dosing. The presenter will provide brief information relative to clinical and practical strategies and guidelines for developing comprehensive care plans that can be used as tools to prevent and offset drug administration and dosing difficulties that may occur in the elderly.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify major adverse drug events common to the elderly population and understand the factors that fuel these events
• 2. Develop clinical and practical strategies and/or care plans for preventing adverse events and implement interventions to improve drug management in the elderly

Keywords: Aging, Pharmacies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.