Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • ESG: THE NEW IMPERATIVE
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Current News
    • COVID-19
    • Providers
    • Insurance
    • Government
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Safety & Quality
    • Transformation
    • People
    • Regional News
    • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Patients
    • Operations
    • Care Delivery
    • Payment
    • Midwest
    • Northeast
    • South
    • West
  • Digital Health
  • Insights
    • ACA 10 Years After
    • Best Practices
    • Special Reports
    • Innovations
  • Opinion
    • Bold Moves
    • Breaking Bias
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Vital Signs Blog
    • From the Editor
  • Events & Awards
    • Awards
    • Conferences
    • Galas
    • Virtual Briefings
    • Webinars
    • Nominate/Eligibility
    • 100 Most Influential People
    • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
    • Excellence in Governance
    • Health Care Hall of Fame
    • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
    • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
    • Top 25 Innovators
    • Diversity in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Diversity Leaders
      • - Leaders to Watch
    • Women in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Women Leaders
      • - Women to Watch
    • Digital Health Transformation Summit
    • ESG: The Implementation Imperative Summit
    • Leadership Symposium
    • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
    • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
    • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
    • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
    • Top 25 Diversity Leaders Gala
    • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
    • - Hospital of the Future
    • - Value Based Care
    • - Supply Chain
    • - Hospital at Home
    • - Workplace of the Future
    • - Digital Health
    • - Future of Staffing
    • - Hospital of the Future (Fall)
  • Multimedia
    • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
    • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
    • Video Series - The Check Up
    • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
  • Data Center
    • Data Center Home
    • Hospital Financials
    • Staffing & Compensation
    • Quality & Safety
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Data Archive
    • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
    • Surveys
    • Data Points
  • MORE +
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs
    • People on the Move
    • Reprints & Licensing
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Providers
August 15, 2017 01:00 AM

As rates of antipsychotic use drop at nursing homes, worries increase for patients

Virgil Dickson
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print

    After years of criticism, nursing homes have curbed administering antipsychotics, but some providers are questioning whether the across-the-board cuts are preventing some seniors from getting needed medications.

    The prevalence of use of antipsychotics among nursing home residents who have been in care for at least 100 days is 15.7% down in 2017 from 23.9% at the end of 2011, according to new data from the CMS. The reduction is due to a partnership between industry and the CMS in which nursing homes look for ways to reduce their reliance on the drugs. The National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes, which began in 2012, sparked by a report from HHS' Office of the Inspector General that found 83% of atypical antipsychotic drug claims were for elderly nursing home residents who had not been diagnosed with a condition for which antipsychotic medications were approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

    The partnership includes the American Health Care Association, the American Health Quality Association, LeadingAge, the American Medical Directors Association and Advancing Excellence.

    "For people with cognitive dysfunction, whatever from, there isn't a cookie-cutter approach," said Dr. Victoria Walker, chief medical officer at Good Samaritan Society, which has 160 facilities across 24 states. "It's not a simple as take this pill; it has to be more person-centered than that."

    Her company's nursing homes are in some states that the CMS has noted had the sharpest drops in use of antipsychotics, including Arkansas, which has seen a 10.87% drop in use among long-term care residents since 2011 and Florida, which has seen a 9.21% decrease.

    The long-term care industry has taken aggressive steps to ensure only patients who truly need the drugs will get them. This approach centers on creating a customized care plan for patients to uncover the underlining reason for aggressive behavior and to address those without using antipsychotics.

    For instance, if a patient is reluctant to take a bath in the morning, instead of relying on drugs as a way to make them more compliant, staff members may reach out to family who may reveal that patient usually take baths at night, which is a simple fix that wouldn't require medication.

    "By decreasing the use of antipsychotics, we have seen an increase in engagement in both our staff and our elders," said Annette Wenzler, chief nursing officer at Signature Healthcare, a long-term-care company with 125 locations in 11 states. "For our staff, education and regular team huddles improve communication, which improves medication management. For our elders, they experience a trust and familiarity with their daily caregivers."

    Despite the progress made, advocates are hopeful the CMS and industry won't put on the brakes.

    "We're not done. There's been a significant decrease, but there's a long way to go," said Beth Kallmyer, vice president of constituent services at the Alzheimer's Association. "Ultimately antipsychotics are not indicated for people with dementia. They should not be a first intervention, and unfortunately in many long-term care facilities, it still is."

    Some clinicians have felt that federal surveyors have an expectation that nursing homes are working toward a 0% rate of antipsychotic use that puts patients truly in need of the drugs at risk, according to Dr. David Gifford, senior vice president of quality and regulatory affairs at the American Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes.

    As this partnership continues, work needs to be done to figure out what an appropriate rate of use is that ensures that patients that actually need the drugs will get them.

    "There is a feeling among some providers that people who might benefit from the drugs shouldn't get them or else they may get themselves in trouble," Gifford said. "If there are people for which these drugs are indicated and they are not getting them, then you've crossed a line."

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    rural-health1.png
    Transgender patients in rural states struggle to find doctors
    The Check Up: John Nickens, LCMC Health
    The Check Up: John Nickens, LCMC Health
    Most Popular
    1
    More healthcare organizations at risk of credit default, Moody's says
    2
    Centene fills out senior executive team with new president, COO
    3
    SCAN, CareOregon plan to merge into the HealthRight Group
    4
    Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan unveils big push that lets physicians take on risk, reap rewards
    5
    Bright Health weighs reverse stock split as delisting looms
    Sponsored Content
    Modern Healthcare A.M. Newsletter: Sign up to receive a comprehensive weekday morning newsletter designed for busy healthcare executives who need the latest and most important healthcare news and analysis.
    Get Newsletters

    Sign up for enewsletters and alerts to receive breaking news and in-depth coverage of healthcare events and trends, as they happen, right to your inbox.

    Subscribe Today
    MH Magazine Cover

    MH magazine offers content that sheds light on healthcare leaders’ complex choices and touch points—from strategy, governance, leadership development and finance to operations, clinical care, and marketing.

    Subscribe
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Modern Healthcare empowers industry leaders to succeed by providing unbiased reporting of the news, insights, analysis and data.

    Contact Us

    (877) 812-1581

    Email us

     

    Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Editorial Dept
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Awards
    • About Us
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Modern Healthcare
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Current News
      • COVID-19
      • Providers
      • Insurance
      • Government
      • Finance
      • Technology
      • Safety & Quality
      • Transformation
        • Patients
        • Operations
        • Care Delivery
        • Payment
      • People
      • Regional News
        • Midwest
        • Northeast
        • South
        • West
      • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Digital Health
    • Insights
      • ACA 10 Years After
      • Best Practices
      • Special Reports
      • Innovations
    • Opinion
      • Bold Moves
      • Breaking Bias
      • Commentaries
      • Letters
      • Vital Signs Blog
      • From the Editor
    • Events & Awards
      • Awards
        • Nominate/Eligibility
        • 100 Most Influential People
        • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Excellence in Governance
        • Health Care Hall of Fame
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
        • Top 25 Innovators
        • Diversity in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Diversity Leaders
          • - Leaders to Watch
        • Women in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Women Leaders
          • - Women to Watch
      • Conferences
        • Digital Health Transformation Summit
        • ESG: The Implementation Imperative Summit
        • Leadership Symposium
        • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
        • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
        • Top 25 Diversity Leaders Gala
        • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
      • Virtual Briefings
        • - Hospital of the Future
        • - Value Based Care
        • - Supply Chain
        • - Hospital at Home
        • - Workplace of the Future
        • - Digital Health
        • - Future of Staffing
        • - Hospital of the Future (Fall)
      • Webinars
    • Multimedia
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Video Series - The Check Up
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • Data Center
      • Data Center Home
      • Hospital Financials
      • Staffing & Compensation
      • Quality & Safety
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Data Archive
      • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
      • Surveys
      • Data Points
    • MORE +
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Newsletters
      • Jobs
      • People on the Move
      • Reprints & Licensing