In the wake of increased scrutiny of Medicare and Medicaid charges made by healthcare facilities, the need for data-informed decision-making has grown. Turenne PharMedCo Pharmacy Services now offers long-term care facilities an extra level of support to strengthen their pharmacy services decision-making. Turenne PharMedCo’s Connect 360 program gives nursing homes and assisted living facilities access to financial reporting and clinical and compliance analytics through personalized annual reviews. This program helps facilities keep their bottom lines in check by giving them access to the information and strategies they need to make informed decisions. 

“Analytics are important for all types of businesses because they are the basis of good decision-making,” said Sarah Barker, Pharm.D, general manager at Turenne PharMedCo in Montgomery, Alabama. “When you rely on government funding, it’s imperative that you have solutions that help you be an excellent steward of those dollars.” 

Connect 360 provides facilities with an in-depth look at their pharmacy service usage and gives them details about several areas including purchases, average costs, and the number of certain medications, like antipsychotic drugs. The facilities’ information is compared against state and national averages. Receiving information about antipsychotics is especially important as the U.S. government continues to scrutinize the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing facilities. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services encouraged a 15 percent reduction in the use of antipsychotic drugs through the National Partnership to Improve Dementia in Nursing Homes in 2011. 

Antipsychotic drugs are often given to residents with dementia and can cause adverse reactions such as cardiovascular problems and death. The CMS guidance on administering antipsychotic medication requires implementation of alternative non-drug interventions for residents with dementia-related symptoms. The approach looks at why an individual is expressing certain behaviors first rather than trying to chemically subdue them. 

“Knowing how much these types of medications are used by peer facilities helps establish a baseline and promotes less use of antipsychotic medication,” Barker said. “These non-drug interventions help facilities conform to residents’ needs and can lead to a better quality of life.” 
To learn more about how Connect 360 can help your facility align your pharmacy service and business goals, go to www.turennepharmedco.com/connect360.