When is it appropriate for the therapy team to bring attention to the nursing staff and physician that medicines could be delaying therapy progress?
Answer
That is a great question. I think that needs to be a continual two-way conversation. Physical therapy is an essential part of the health care team, and it is only when we work together and bring these things to each other’s attention that the patient ultimately benefits. If the regimen is negatively impacting therapy, I think the rest of the team needs to know that right away. That is probably commonly the case. The rest of the team can also reinforce that the patient is adequately medicated prior to therapy so that they can get the most out of their session. I would imagine occasionally you see patients that, for whatever reason, did not take their blood pressure medicine or did not take their pain medicine prior to their first appointment. That would limit what you could do. If a physician is going to refer a patient to PT, they need to make sure the patients understand the importance of the medications that day as well.
Michelle A. Fritsch, Pharm.D., CGP, BCACP
Michelle Fritsch, Pharm.D., CGP, BCACP is a clinical pharmacist with a passion for geriatric health and education. She is currently founder of Meds MASH, LLC, a company dedicated to reducing risks posed by medications and falls in mature adults. She was from 2008-2014 founding Professor and Chair, Department of Clinical and Administrative Sciences at the Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Fritsch received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from Purdue University. She then completed a primary care residency at the William S. Middleton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Prior to her arrival at the Notre Dame of Maryland University, Dr. Fritsch founded and directed the Alamance Medication Assistance Program (AlaMAP) of Alamance Regional Medical Center (ARMC) in Burlington, North Carolina from 1997 to 2008. The AlaMAP clinic provides medication therapy management and medication access to a geriatric population in Alamance County, North Carolina.
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