Pharmacy Practice in the Long-term Care Environment

OBJECTIVE: To review developments in the long-term care environment as they pertain to pharmacy practice. DATA SOURCES: Current literature describing the long-term care environment. STUDY SELECTION: Not applicable. DATA EXTRACTION: Not applicable. DATA SYNTHESIS: Long-term care is not synonymous with nursing home care. It encompasses a variety of care environments that offer high quality yet less-expensive alternatives to traditional nursing homes and represents a wide array of services formats that differ in name and description among states and regions. Health improvements, increased attention to quality of life, and the need to reduce the cost of care will stimulate the growth of long-term care facilities that are alternatives to nursing homes. CONCLUSION: The growing and evolving long-term care environment presents pharmacists with significant opportunities to expand their role. Managed care organizations must take note of pharmacists' accomplishments in long-term care and use their expertise to maxim...