The 40 care plans in this manual are based on recommendations and guidelines from the State Operations Manual, Appendix P - Survey Protocol for Long Term Care Facilities - Part I, Revised Sept 15, 2006, CMS: 

Under these regulations, medication management includes consideration of: 

1. Indications for use of medication (including initiation or continued use of antipsychotic medication); 

2. Monitoring for efficacy and adverse consequences; 

3. Dose (including duplicate therapy); 

4. Duration; 

5. Tapering of a medication dose/gradual dose reduction for antipsychotic medications; and 

6. Prevention, identification, and response to adverse consequences. 

Elements of Medication Management

Selection of medications(s) based on assessing relative benefits and risks to the individual resident; 

Evaluation of a resident’s signs and symptoms, in order to identify the underlying cause(s), including adverse consequences of medications; 

Selection and use of medications in doses and for the duration appropriate to each resident’s clinical conditions, age, and underlying causes of symptoms;

The use of non-pharmacological interventions, when applicable, to minimize the need for medications, permit use of the lowest possible dose, or allow medications to be discontinued; and