When Less Is More: CAPC's Andrew E. Esch Addresses Polypharmacy in High-Risk Populations
In an interview with Pharmacy Times, CAPC's Andrew E. Esch, MD, discusses how pharmacists are leveraging new technologies to improve medication reviews, reduce therapeutic duplication, and engage patients and caregivers in conversations about deprescribing. He also highlights ongoing structural barriers—such as limited pharmacist authority and reimbursement—and the connection between social determinants of health (SDOH) and polypharmacy. Additionally, Dr. Esch calls for policy, education, and team-based care reforms to make deprescribing a standard of care for health systems.
In addition to the above interview, we encourage you to read the blog, How Deprescribing Can Mitigate the Problem of Overmedication, which includes tips to assess for overmedication before deprescribing.