The Use of Antipsychotic Medications in Veterans in a Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Living Center (CLC)-Based Hospice Unit.

Symptoms of delirium are common in the post-acute care setting, particularly in patients who have dementia or are approaching the end of life. When behavioral measures fail to adequately manage symptoms, there are few alternative options. Antipsychotic medications have long been the mainstay of pharmacologic treatment for delirium, despite a paucity of evidence for efficacy and newer data suggestive of possible harms. Moreover, the use of a new antipsychotic medication in veterans admitted to a short-term rehabilitation center is seen as potentially inappropriate and negatively affects the CMS/Medicare Quality Indicator (QI) profile.
Source: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association - Category: Health Management Authors: Source Type: research