Colgate Oral Health Network
Managing Patients with Polypharmacy
Ann Eshenaur Spolarich

Ann Eshenaur Spolarich RDH, PhD, FSCDH, Professor and Assistant Dean for Research, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, A.T. Still University

Managing Patients with Polypharmacy

Patients of all ages present to the dental setting with polypharmacy and polyherbacy. This program will review risk factors for polypharmacy, health risks associated with medication complexity, and strategies to improve collaborative care communications between patients and dental and medical providers to reduce the likelihood of medication errors. Specific populations for whom polypharmacy poses significant risks will be identified. Dental practice recommendations for managing affected individuals safely will be presented.

Participants will learn:

  • Identify risk factors for polypharmacy and polyherbacy.
  • Describe health risks associated with medical complexity, including avoidable complications such as drug and herbal and dietary supplement interactions.
  • Discuss how normal physiological changes of aging influence drug prescribing behaviors.
  • Identify patient populations for whom polypharmacy poses significant risks.
  • Describe communication strategies for collaborative care to reduce medication errors.
  • Identify dental practice management considerations to safely treat medicated patients in the dental setting.

Presenters:

Ann Eshenaur Spolarich

Ann Eshenaur Spolarich RDH, PhD, FSCDH, Professor and Assistant Dean for Research, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, A.T. Still University

More courses with Ann Eshenaur Spolarich

Ann Eshenaur Spolarich is an internationally recognized author and speaker on pharmacology and the care of medically complex patients.  She has presented over 1,000 invited lectures and has over 125 professional publications.  She is Professor, Course Director of Oral Medicine and Pharmacology, and Assistant Dean for Research at the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, A.T. Still University (ATSU), where she teaches part-time in the Special Care Clinic.  Ann is also a faculty member in the NYU Langone AEGD residency program at ATSU.  Ann was awarded fellowship status in special care dental hygiene in 2016 and received the Education Award in 2021 from the Special Care Dentistry Association.

Financial disclosure: Ann Eshenaur Spolarich has received an honorarium from Colgate-Palmolive Company.

"Managing Patients with Polypharmacy" has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the AGD Pace and is supported by funds received from Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals Inc. Tribune Group GmbH is a recognized AGD Pace provider. At the end of the webinar, after passing the C.E. Quiz, you will be able to download your AGD Pace C.E. Certificate.

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