User Story

Polypharmacy

A number of years ago I had to hospitalize an elderly female patient for a pleural effusion and “polypharmacy”.

She was taking 17 medications and was followed by four specialists and had no primary care physician. This patient was short of breath, weak and in obvious loss of autonomy. I followed her during her stay at the hospital. After 3 weeks of hospitalization, she was much stronger and her cardio-respiratory status was much improved. She was discharged on 5 medications to be dispensed by dosette. A follow-up appointment was scheduled for the following week.