Why should a pharmacist be board certified in geriatrics?

Medication therapy management (MTM) has become an important part of pharmacy practice in a variety of settings. Evaluation of medication regimens in older adults, however, requires knowledge of more than just individual medications and diseases. In older adults, MTM must be tailored to the patient’s individual circumstances, including co-morbidities, goals of care, preferences, and ability to adhere to medications.

Drug therapy in older adults involves unique considerations, such as:

• Potentially inappropriate medications
• Polypharmacy
• Prescribing cascade; and
• The impact of medications on geriatric syndromes (e.g. falls, cognitive impairment).

The purpose of the Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (CGP) credential is to identify and recognize those pharmacists who have expertise and knowledge of drug therapy principles for older adults. For this reason, the CGP credential is ideal for pharmacists who provide MTM services to older adults.