Advocacy by Dr. Laurie Mallery, Dr. Paige Moorhouse, Pam McLean-Veysey and Dr. Brian Steeves; doctoral research by Cheryl Smith, RN. NP; and leadership by the Continuing Care Physician Leaders of Nova Scotia culminated the Polypharmacy Toolkit and other provincial projects to improve the quality of care and appropriate medication prescribing for frail elderly.
Project Team
Development of the Polypharmacy Toolkit was led by core project team members including Dr. Brian Steeves, MD; Dr. Cheryl Smith, NP, DNP; Dr. Laurie Mallery, Geriatrician; Darla MacPherson, NP, BSc, MN & VP Community at CHA; Peggy Mahon, MAEd, Director Public Relations Community Engagement at GASHA; and Madonna MacDonald, RN, MSc, & VP of Health Services. Project coordination and support by GASHA staff Danielle Murphy and Hillary MacEachern.
The project’s core funders include the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, GASHA and CHA. In kind funding to support the development of the Polypharmacy Toolkit and to populate the advisory committee was provided by district health authorities across the province.
Advisory Committee
The core project team collaborated with an advisory committee which was comprised of healthcare practitioners whose expertise helped achieve a well-rounded and comprehensive toolkit.
The role of the Advisory Committee was to provided guidance and advice on the issue of appropriate medication prescription for frail elderly. Membership reflected academic, practice and operational champions who are recognized for their work advancing an improved quality of care for seniors.
Participants in the committee represent stakeholder organizations, including the Nova Scotia Department of Health, the Capital Health Drug Evaluation Unit, Dalhousie University CME and partnering district health authorities. Physician leaders from gerontology and continuing care are represented on the Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee consists of the project team members plus Eleanor MacDougall, VP, Community CEHHA; Dr. Barry Clarke, Continuing Care Physician Lead; Dr. Chris McKnight, Geriatrician; Dr. Mike Allen, Dalhousie University; Pam McLean-Veysey, Drug Evaluation Unit CDHA; Judy McPhee, DWH and Dr. Harold Berghuis, Continuing Care Physician Lead CEHHA.
Funders
The Polypharmacy Toolkit is an initiative of Nova Scotia’s district health authorities and supported with funding from the Continuing Care Branch of the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation and the district health authorities.
Continuing Care Branch of the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness
The Continuing Care Branch of the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness provides services to eligible people who need care outside of the hospital in their home and community. Care can be provided on a long or short-term basis.
Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation
The Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation is an organization where its goal is to assist, collaborate with, and fund individuals and organizations conducting health research in the province. They do this by working with stakeholders, including provincial government, health authorities, and health researchers on a number of initiatives and funding opportunities.
The health authorities of Nova Scotia also funded this project. These health authorities include: the Cape Breton Health Authority, the Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority, the Pictou County Health Authority, the IWK Health Centre, the Cumberland Health Authority, the Colchester East Hants Health Authority, Capital Health, Annapolis Valley Health, South Shore Health and SouthWest Health.