For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews
Telehealth nurse missed red flags in elderly woman’s call: HDC
Wednesday 31 July 2024, 02:30 AM

A telehealth nurse breached the code by failing to call an ambulance for a woman who had been vomiting for three days [Image: Chainarong Prasertthai on iStock]
An elderly woman died after a telehealth nurse failed to recognise critical symptoms during an overnight call. Patrice Dougan reports on the HDC’s decision
In a nutshell
A woman in her 70s died after a telehealth nurse failed to recognise warning signs and advised her to wait to see her GP instead o, News Red w/ Pale
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa
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