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Jerry Gurwitz talks with Boston Globe on safe drug use for elderly patients

Jerry H. Gurwitz, MD, the Dr. John Meyers Professor of Primary Care Medicine and professor of medicine and family medicine & community health, talked to the Boston Globe about the prevalence of adverse drug events, many of which are preventable.

Chief of the division of geriatric medicine and an expert in the safe use of medications in elderly patients, Dr. Gurwitz said he thinks nearly a third of bad reactions could be avoided with better prescribing, monitoring and patient education.

“It’s been very difficult to develop interventions that reduce the risk of adverse drug events. We haven’t been terribly successful,” Gurwitz told the Globe.

Read the Globe story here:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2013/04/28/side-effects-from-medications-can-cause-range-problems-especially-elderly/VVL1k93NT3Sdy96ZGXSXYP/story.html