Welcome to Geriatric Medicine Consulting!

Hello everyone and thank you so much for visiting my new website. I am a board certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and I have been practicing Geriatric Medicine since 2008. My role is a lot different than seeing patients in the typical clinic setting. I see patients in 3 places. The bulk of my role is seeing patients in the short term rehab setting after hospitalization. This is also referred to as Transitional Care Unit or TCU. It is also called swing bed in some areas. These patients are still too sick or to weak, to go back home yet but, they no longer require hospital level care. They are managed medically in the TCU and they do physical therapy and occupational therapy each twice daily unitl they are ready to go back home. The other 2 places I see patients is in thier home environment in the nursing homes and in assisted livings. I do primary care management in these 2 settings.

Over my years of geriatric practice, it has become quite evident that our elderly population experience a very high rate of adverse side effects from the medications they are prescribed. There is a long list of medications that should be avoided in elderly individuals due to high risk of adverse side effects. These side effects can include falls, fractures, confusion or "brain fog", sedation, fatigue, poor balance, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, muscle aches, sleep disorders, decreased appetite, weight loss, and so on.

These inappropriate medications are prescribed for many reasons, but are never done so intentionally. You go to see your primary care provider usually for a specific problem. Generally, you leave that appointment with another medication and no time is spent talking about your growing medication list. Because of our broken health care system, you get about 10-15 minutes at your appointment and that is it.

Many patients see multiple specialists in addition to a primary care provider and seldom are they talking to one another about your growing medication list, or the potential drug-drug interactions.

Some patients are started on a medication for a short term problem, but then lost in follow up due to many other medical conditions and they are left on that medication long term. This medication, that they don't really need, can be contributing to the symptoms, or geriatric syndromes that patients are experiencing.

The last reason I see in practice why inappropriate medications are used, or patients are compiling a long list of medications is due to thier primary care provider just not having a lot of knowledge, or experience with medication management in this population.

As my passion for the above issues and polypharmacy has grown over the last several years, I have decied to venture out and provide a service for this population that does not currently exist in this way. This will be completely online through my website and, or a phone call when needed. That is why I have created Geriatic Medicine Consulting. For a small fee, you will complete a medical intake form, which includes a medical history, some questions about your current functional status, list any symptoms you may be experiencing regularily, and then of course you will need to provide a prescription medication list, an over the counter medication list and list any supplements you may be taking (No, not all over the counter medications and supplements are safe!). After I recieve your intake, I will do a deep dive into your medications related to your symptoms. If you have no symptoms, that's fine too. We can reduce the risk of future side effects before they occur., or possibly trim down your list. I will send you back a complete medication review identifying high risk medications, any medications that should be avoided in the elderly, make recommendations for a safer alternative medication when they exist, or make recommendations for dose reductions based off of your medication profile and your symptoms, or potential side effects you may be experiencing. No, not all symptoms you may be experiencing are related to your medications, but wouldn't it be nice to know that and feel better if you could? With this Geriatric Medication Review, you will go see your primary care provider and discuss my recommendations for implementation with them. I will not be prescribing you any medications, I am providing you with education and supplying you with an expert Geratric Medication Review.

This can be a very valuable tool, so please share with anyone you know that may be experiencing medication side effects, or taking too many medications. We can help our Senior population age well, and be at thier optimal functional and cognitive performance which will elevate thier quality of life.

Thank you for taking the time to read my new blog. Please check back as I will be sharing educational posts and videos. If you have any questions regarding this service, please reach out to me via email at ChadSharkeyNursePractitioner@gmail.com, or visit me at www.geriatricmedicineconsulting.com.