Better Care for Many Seniors with Respiratory Illness

HEALTH-Better Care for Many Seniors with Respiratory Illness

Simple changes in the way respiratory medications are delivered are providing better care for seniors, at less cost.

The Drug Evaluation Alliance of Nova Scotia is encouraging more than 5,000 seniors with respiratory illness to take their medication through a puffer or in a powder (dry delivery), instead of through mist from a mask (wet delivery).

The mist method allows medication to escape from the mask and carries a higher risk of bacterial contamination. The powder or puffer method delivers more of the drug to the patients’ lungs. It also gets the medication into the system at a faster rate, and is easier to carry.

While better treatment is the primary goal, the puffer and powder method also costs less. Pharmacare programs have spent about $400,000 less on inhaled respiratory solutions and there has also been a 30 to 60 per cent reduction in hospital therapy costs. This, in turn, has resulted in seniors paying less for their prescriptions.

"This is part of our drug management system, where the Drug Evaluation Alliance continually tests ways to encourage appropriate prescribing and use of medication," said Health Minister Jamie Muir. "First and foremost, it’s about better health and treatment for patients. It’s also about the best use of health-care dollars as pharmaceutical costs continue to grow faster than any other component of the health care system."

The Drug Evaluation Alliance focuses its efforts on pharmacare clients -- and it is working. When the alliance began promoting the puffer or powder method early last year, 10 per cent of pharmacare clients were using both mist and dry delivery methods. That number has now dropped to only four per cent. As well, the number of seniors using a puffer or powder has grown to 92 per cent from 77 per cent.

"Switching to a dry delivery method is beneficial for seniors, so long as they are provided with adequate information," said Michael McDonald, director of health initiatives at the Nova Scotia Lung Association. "The lung association provides access to a 24-hour support line where trained nurses and respiratory specialists are available to answer any questions the public may have regarding respiratory medications."

The province has supported this program by sharing information on the benefits of dry delivery methods with hospitals, pharmacists and patients. Also, the AeroChamber, a device for those who find it difficult to use a puffer, is included in the pharmacare program. It has been made available to patients making the switch from mist to dry, as well as to those who already use dry inhalers but need assistance to improve their therapy.