Presentation Description:

The presenter will discuss streamlining medication administration using fairly simple changes to medication orders, which may reduce the number of medication administration times and increase the time that direct staff and caregivers have available for other activities. Following the presentation, participants will be able to identify medication management optimization opportunities, discuss lessons learned from COVID-19, and recognize the impact of the 4Ms with a focus on medication safety.

Presenter Bio:

Dr. Nicole J. Brandt is a professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science (PPS) and executive director of the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.  Since joining the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Dr. Brandt has expanded available geriatric training opportunities, including the geriatrics/palliative care pathway, ASHP-accredited geriatrics residency, and two-year post-PharmD fellowship. Brandt was named the 2019 recipient of the American Geriatrics Society’s (AGS) Dennis W. Jahnigen Memorial Award for her leadership in geriatrics education. She has worked on various interdisciplinary teams across numerous practice settings and is currently leading initiatives to integrate sustainable pharmacist-directed services to help older adults with multiple co-morbidities at the MedStar Center for Successful Aging. Dr. Brandt has been active in promoting optimal care for older adults and has affected this through her educational, clinical, as well as health care policy work. She co-led an initiative that led to the University of Maryland, Baltimore and University of Maryland, Baltimore County to become the first universities in the state of Maryland to receive Age-Friendly University distinction. She has directed projects with multiple stakeholders focusing on Medicare Part D Medication Therapy Management programs, high risk medications, and medication stewardship. Her public policy advocacy occurs on both a state and national level. She is one of the authors of the 2012, 2015 and 2018-2019 American Geriatrics Society Beer’s Criteria and the past president and board chairman of American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. She recently co-chaired a task force convened by the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy with assistance from the US Deprescribing Research Network to develop an Implementation Guide for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care during the COVID-19 pandemic.