Senior Care Partners (PACE) Enhances Elderly Patient Safety with DoseMeRx
DoseMeRx Empowers Senior Care Partners (PACE) to Improve Elderly Patient Safety with Modernized Vancomycin Dosing
DoseMe, a recognized leader in model-informed precision dosing (MIPD), has announced that Senior Care Partners (PACE) has implemented its DoseMeRx platform to modernize vancomycin dosing for elderly patients in accordance with the latest Area Under the Curve (AUC) guidelines. This move enhances the safety and consistency of vancomycin dosing for the organization’s patient population of 600 outpatients, managed by a team of three pharmacists. Through this transition, Senior Care Partners (PACE) aims to standardize dosing practices and improve the overall quality of care for their elderly patients.
Addressing the Need for Consistency in Vancomycin Dosing
Senior Care Partners (PACE) recognized the necessity of a standardized approach to vancomycin dosing due to the infrequent nature of vancomycin administration among their patient population. “With infrequent cases requiring vancomycin dosing, we recognized the need for a standardized approach to improve consistency and confidence among our pharmacists,” explained Gianna Balazs, PharmD, BCGP, Pharmacy Department Leader/Lead Clinical Pharmacist at Senior Care Partners (PACE). Prior to adopting DoseMeRx, the organization relied on trough-based dosing and manual calculations, which varied in precision and were prone to human error. This variability could lead to inconsistent dosing and potentially compromise patient safety. DoseMeRx’s precise methodology and evidence-based approach reduce this variability, enhancing both the quality of care and pharmacist confidence in their decision-making.
Comprehensive Evaluation and Decision to Adopt DoseMeRx
The decision to adopt DoseMeRx came after a thorough evaluation of several solutions, involving multiple departments at Senior Care Partners (PACE), including Information Technology (IT) and leadership teams. According to Balazs, the organization chose DoseMeRx for its robust IT security features, intuitive interface, and user-friendly design. DoseMeRx is certified with HITRUST, ensuring its compliance with the highest security standards required to protect patient data. This feature was particularly important for Senior Care Partners (PACE), which operates in a healthcare environment where patient data confidentiality is paramount.
Sharmeen Roy, Chief Science and Strategy Officer at DoseMe, emphasized that DoseMeRx not only provides the tools needed for accurate and standardized vancomycin dosing, but also ensures that pharmacists have easy access to resources that guide them through the decision-making process. “DoseMeRx not only standardizes reporting and documentation but also equips pharmacists with accessible resources for more confident decision-making,” Roy stated. These resources support pharmacists with varying levels of experience, making it easier for them to provide consistent care to patients regardless of their familiarity with vancomycin dosing.
Transforming Care for the Elderly with the PACE Model
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) serves as an alternative to traditional nursing home care. Senior Care Partners (PACE), as a PACE provider, offers comprehensive services that include preventive, primary, acute, and long-term care, enabling elderly individuals to continue living in their communities rather than transitioning to institutionalized care. These services are delivered through an interdisciplinary care team (IDT) that includes physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, therapists, van drivers, and aides. By offering a wide range of care options, the PACE model addresses both the medical and social needs of the elderly, ensuring a holistic approach to aging in place.
Senior Care Partners (PACE) plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for elderly individuals by providing these comprehensive services in a community-based setting. However, the nature of their patient population—composed of individuals with complex medical needs—requires that every aspect of care be carefully managed. Medications like vancomycin, which are used to treat serious infections, require precise dosing to avoid complications such as nephrotoxicity. This is where the adoption of DoseMeRx becomes a critical step in ensuring that patients receive the best possible care.
Streamlining Dosing Practices for Improved Patient Outcomes
Senior Care Partners (PACE) had previously used a traditional method of trough-based vancomycin dosing, which often involved manual calculations and subjective decisions by pharmacists. This approach could lead to inconsistencies in patient care, as the efficacy of vancomycin treatment depends on achieving specific drug levels in the bloodstream. If dosing is not properly adjusted, patients may experience adverse effects or inadequate treatment.
With DoseMeRx, however, the organization has streamlined its dosing practices, significantly reducing the chances of errors. The platform leverages model-informed precision dosing (MIPD), which uses individual patient characteristics—such as renal function and weight—along with AUC guidelines to calculate the ideal vancomycin dose for each patient. By following these data-driven guidelines, pharmacists are able to make more informed and consistent dosing decisions, ultimately enhancing patient safety.
“DoseMeRx provides a clear, precise methodology that reduces variability and enhances the quality of care we deliver to our patients,” said Balazs. The platform’s data-driven approach supports clinical decision-making, ensuring that the correct dose is given every time, thereby preventing complications related to suboptimal dosing. For pharmacists at Senior Care Partners (PACE), this means less time spent on manual calculations and more time spent focusing on patient care.
Seamless Implementation and User-Friendly Experience
Another key factor in the successful implementation of DoseMeRx was its ease of use. Balazs noted that the team quickly adapted to the platform through video tutorials and trial scenarios, which made the transition smooth and efficient. “Our team quickly acclimated to the platform through video tutorials and trial scenarios, making the transition seamless,” Balazs remarked. The intuitive interface of DoseMeRx allowed the pharmacists at Senior Care Partners (PACE) to begin using the platform with minimal disruption to their workflow.
In comparison to other dosing programs, DoseMeRx stood out for its superior security, functionality, and user experience. “Compared to other programs, DoseMeRx demonstrated superior security, functionality, and ease of use,” said Balazs. This combination of robust security features, a user-friendly interface, and seamless integration into the workflow made DoseMeRx the ideal choice for Senior Care Partners (PACE).
A Foundation for Future Expansion
While Senior Care Partners (PACE) is currently focused on improving vancomycin dosing through DoseMeRx, the platform’s success has laid the groundwork for future expansion. The precision dosing technology can be adapted to a wide range of other therapeutic models, which could benefit Senior Care Partners (PACE) in managing other medications for their elderly patient population. This opens the door for further improvements in patient safety and care quality across various drug classes.
“While Senior Care Partners (PACE) currently focuses on vancomycin dosing, the success of DoseMeRx lays the groundwork for expanding other therapeutic models as needed,” said Roy. This flexibility ensures that as Senior Care Partners (PACE) continues to evolve, DoseMeRx will be able to grow with them, supporting the organization in delivering the best possible care to their patients.
About DoseMe
DoseMe combines smart technology with science, leveraging clinically-validated PK/PD models, patient characteristics, drug concentrations, and genotype to accurately individualize a dose in seconds. The platform is HIPAA, ISO & FDA compliant and the only Bayesian dosing platform to be HITRUST CSF certified. For more information on successful applications of its products, DoseMeRx and DoseMe Analytics, visit https://doseme-rx.com/success-stories.
