The Omnicare Geriatric Pharmaceutical Care Guidelines^® is the cornerstone of Omnicare's effective management of pharmaceutical care of the elderly. The nation's first clinically based formulary tailored to the geriatric population, this comprehensive reference ranks drugs as Preferred, Acceptable or Unacceptable based solely on clinical variables applied to the elderly for specific disease states. The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, an independent academic institution known for its expertise in geriatrics, determines the medical rankings. Cost information is also included, making it easy for a physician to choose the most cost-effective among clinically equivalent or superior drugs.

Now in its 12th edition, the Omnicare Guidelines^® includes the evaluation of 1,087 drugs in more than 200 therapeutic classes.

Health care providers who comply with the Omnicare Guidelines^® have been able to improve patient care, while achieving significant cost savings, in some cases by as much as 30%. The Omnicare Guidelines^® is reviewed by clinicians practicing in geriatric care nationwide as well as by the American Geriatrics Society. The Society recognizes the Omnicare Guidelines^® as "a valuable tool for guiding geriatric care in both long-term care and ambulatory settings."

Putting the Omnicare Guidelines^® into practice

Omnicare's Formulary Management Program uses the Omnicare Guidelines^® as a tool to educate physicians on reasons to choose Preferred drugs over less effective or less cost-effective alternatives. Using therapeutic interchange protocols, the Omnicare Consultant Pharmacist can:

• help prescribers choose the best clinical therapy for each individual resident
• offer guidance on how to switch from one drug to another in the way most beneficial to the patient
• reduce the variability of prescribing, so that every resident in a skilled nursing facility receives optimal care and opportunity for payer savings