Medication Management - Polypharmacy
Identifying Attributes
Care Settings
Country
Publishing Organisation
Type of Quality Indicator
IOM Quality Dimension
Domain
Defining Attributes
Definition
Percentage of care recipients who were prescribed nine or more medications.
Numerator
Number of care recipients who were prescribed nine or more medications.
Denominator
Total number of care recipients assessed for polypharmacy.
Exclusions
Care recipients admitted in hospital on the collection date.
Use of Risk Adjustment
Risk Adjustments
None
Stratifications
None
Data Attributes
Type of Data Collection
Data Collection Methods
A single review of medication charts and/or administration records for each care recipient on a selected collection date every quarter. Data items collected: Number of care recipients assessed for polypharmacy. Number of care recipients excluded because they were admitted in hospital on the collection date. Number of care recipients prescribed nine or more medications based on a review of their medication charts and/or administration records as they are on the collection date.
Frequency of Data Collection
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
Reporting Methods
Reported at national, state, remoteness (www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/Topics/Quality-in-aged-care/Residential-Aged-Care-Quality-Indicators-latest-release) and facility level (www.myagedcare.gov.au/find-a-provider/search-by-name), every quarter. Included within an overall five-star quality rating program (n=5 QIs). Contributes to Star Ratings (care recipients with one or more pressure injuries).
Reporting Frequency
Reporting Frequency in Days
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
Source and Reference Attributes
Evidence Source
Department of Health and Aged Care. National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program). 2023 www.health.gov.au/our-work/qi-program