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Invited Commentary
November 2014

Improving Prescribing Practices Late in Life: A Task for all Clinicians, Not Just Nursing Home Physicians

Author Affiliations
  • 1Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
  • 2Indiana University Center for Aging Research and Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis
  • 3Palliative Care Service Line, Indiana University Health Physicians, Indianapolis
  • 4Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication and Training Center, Indiana University–Purdue University, Indianapolis
  • 5Department of Medicine, Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis, Indiana
JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(11):1771-1772. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.3277

I hope that the article by Tjia and colleagues1 in this issue of JAMA Internal Medicine is read not just by clinicians who care for patients with advanced dementia and nursing home residents. The article contributes to the literature and practice in 2 important ways. First, the study’s strengths advance our understanding of medication prescribing practices for nursing home residents with advanced dementia. Second, the work by Tjia et al is part of the “Less Is More” series in this journal and addresses the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation’s Choosing Wisely campaign and other initiatives aimed at curtailing the use of nonbeneficial and potentially harmful medications, tests, and treatments. This article should cause all clinicians to reconsider their prescribing practices and other decision making for a broad population of patients late in life.

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