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Development of a hospice formulary for psychotropic medications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2008

Amy Barnhorst ,
James A. Bourgeois  and
Jack Macmillan
Amy Barnhorst
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
James A. Bourgeois*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
Jack Macmillan
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: James A. Bourgeois, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2230 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817. E-mail: james.bourgeois@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
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Abstract

Objective:

The authors describe the concept of hospice formulary as is utilized at the hospice service of a university medical center.

Method:

A periodic review of hospice formulary, focusing on psychotropic medications and delirium prevention, was accomplished in 2006. This effort represents a multidisciplinary effort among hospice nursing, internal medicine, and psychiatry.

Results:

An updated formulary adopting contemporary psychopharmacologic best practices was produced and implemented along with targeted in-service training to nurse clinicians.

Significance of results:

The modern hospice formulary offers opportunities to offer state-of-the-art psychopharmacological care and minimization of delirium through judicious use of psychopharmacological treatments for the psychiatric comorbidities common in terminally ill patients.

Keywords

HospiceFormularyPsychotropic medicationsDeliriumDepression
Type
Review Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , March 2008 , pp. 71 - 77
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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