'America's other drug problem': copious prescriptions for hospitalized elderly.
Older patients are particularly vulnerable to medication errors, as they are often prescribed multiple medications for chronic conditions. This news article reports on complexities associated with managing medications in older patients, including how miscommunication between care team members and patient misunderstanding of postdischarge medication changes can increase risks and contribute to preventable harm. A recent WebM&M commentary discussed strategies to safely manage medications in older patients and highlighted the importance of medication reconciliation.