A computerized system for identifying and informing physicians about problematic drug use in nursing homes.

With growing concern over the quality of medication use in nursing homes, physicians, administrators, pharmacists, and regulators are looking for effective and efficient methods to improve it. Pharmacy consultation alone appears to be ineffective in controlling the use of inappropriate drugs. We describe here a computerized drug utilization review system designed for use in nursing homes. The system evaluates the appropriateness of medication use by criteria developed through the consensus of experts in geriatrics and specifically designed to address the pharmacological needs of elderly, nursing home residents. The program not only determines the frequency of inappropriate prescriptions, but produces written, educational statements to be given to prescribing physicians. These statements can also be given to nurses to educate them about issues in geriatrics pharmacology. Additionally, the system produces medication order forms that may help focus physicians' attention on the need to evaluate drugs individually.