Combination drug therapy

Our job as practitioners, pharmacists, and medical directors is to keep tasks as simple and error free as possible, not only for the patient but also for the health care team. The fewer and the more effective the therapies, the safer and the more compliant it will be for the patient, family, or direct care staff. As each of us measures the new opportunities for drug management and the ever-increasing burden of illness borne by our patients, we must be mindful of the pitfalls of drug misadventure. Our job is to first and foremost watch out for our patients, reduce errors, and keep these frail and vulnerable individuals out of the hospital. Combination drug therapy may reduce costs, provide broader treatment of disease states, and improve compliance. In long-term care settings there is even the potential that it may reduce errors.