Aging populations to benefit from unmatched expertise in drug safety and effectiveness
Moorestown, NJ, September 11, 2017–Tabula Rasa HealthCare, Inc. (“TRHC”) (NASDAQ: TRHC), a healthcare technology company advancing the field of medication safety, today announced that an unprecedented 100% of its eligible clinicians within subsidiary CareKinesis, have achieved Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) recognition. The certification distinguishes pharmacists for their in-depth knowledge of geriatric drug therapy and as preferred providers of care for seniors.
Today’s older adults have unique medication management needs as they manage multiple diseases and medications at the same time. However, traditional training of health professionals focuses on basic physiology, diseases, and use of medication to treat a particular disease, according to the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS), recognized as the gold standard for determining which pharmacists are qualified to contribute at advanced practice levels. As a result, most prescribers and pharmacists tend to focus on the treatment of one disease or the use of one drug at a time. BCGPs are trained to look at the whole patient, evaluate all the diseases he/she is being treated for and evaluate the current medication regimen for its overall safety and effectiveness, potentially avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions and adverse drug events (ADEs).
“TRHC’s geriatric-certified pharmacists know that the focus must be on the total patient, looking at all relevant intrinsic and extrinsic factors to evaluate appropriateness of drug therapy,” said TRHC Chairman and CEO Calvin H. Knowlton, PhD. “Medication safety remains our highest priority, for our people and through the technologies we provide to the market. This is an unprecedented achievement for our subsidiary company, CareKinesis, which achieved the 100% certification.”
Pharmacists who meet BPS’s criteria and pass the examination are entitled to use the designation “Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist” and place the initials BCGP after their name.
“When I need it, I want a Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist on my own healthcare team,” said Robert L. Alesiani, PharmD, BCGP and Chief Pharmacotherapy Officer for CareKinesis. “I believe BCGPs are more likely to help decrease medication-related risk, reduce adverse drug events and enhance compliance, adherence and quality of life.”
“Thanks to Dr. Alesiani’s leadership and example, 100% of our eligible staff have taken and passed this rigorous exam,” said Dr. Knowlton. “We congratulate our pharmacists and thank them for the tremendous service they provide in assuring the best possible personalized medication therapy care.”
Share this: