PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospice Pharmacia (HP), a division of excelleRx, Inc., today announced the release of its Pediatric Medication Use Guidelines (Pediatric MUGs) -- HP’s first evidence-based protocols developed specifically for use in the management of end-of-life symptoms for pediatric hospice patients. Combined with HP’s Medication Use Guidelines intended for use in symptom management for adult hospice patients, HP is now able to provide its partnering hospices with comprehensive medication management protocols that are specific to a patient’s age and symptom management needs.
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Recent data indicate that approximately 50,000 children die in the U.S. annually, and another 500,000 children face one or more life-threatening conditions every year (New England Journal of Medicine, 4/22/04). By comparison, approximately 2.3 million adults die in the U.S. each year. Under current law, hospice care is available and funded through Medicare for all terminally ill persons in the United States, including children, adults, and the elderly.
As with adults who face a life-limiting illness, children require hospice and palliative care geared to their special needs and those of their families and caregivers. End-of-life symptom management for pediatric hospice patients differs significantly from adult hospice patients. In order to address these unique pharmacotherapy needs, HP has developed the Pediatric MUGs.
“Hospice Pharmacia has always provided pharmaceutical care to the pediatric hospice patient,” says Dr. Doug Weschules, director of clinical services, excelleRx, Inc. “However, a formal document specific to pediatric palliative pharmacotherapy did not exist for us or our hospice partners. Because pediatric patients have different dosing requirements and may metabolize certain drugs differently than adults, we have taken those factors into account when developing medication protocols for the end-of-life symptoms most commonly faced by pediatric patients. In addition, excelleRx is able to provide compounded medications and proper dosing of medications for pediatric hospice patients in accordance with these protocols.”
According to Tim Moored, director of pharmacy services for Hospice of Michigan: “At Hospice of Michigan, we continue to provide care for infants and children throughout Michigan who face life-limiting illnesses. The availability of Hospice Pharmacia’s Pediatric edition of the Medication Use Guidelines will meet a major need for our hospice by providing evidence-based palliative pharmaceutical care that is specifically designed for the youngest of patients. Our nurses and staff will now have age-specific tips on pediatric dosing for different medications, pointers on how to mask the taste of medications for children, and key information on side effects that may be more pronounced in children than adults.”
Hospice of Michigan’s pediatric hospice program is one of only a handful of programs of its kind in the country. Formed in 1994, Hospice of Michigan’s pediatric program has served more than 400 families in Michigan.
The Hospice Pharmacia Pediatric MUGs are now available to all hospices that partner with Hospice Pharmacia for pharmacy services. For additional information, please contact Dr. Orsula Voltis Thomas, Chief Marketing and Strategic Development Officer, excelleRx, Inc., at 215-282-1602 or by e-mail at Orsula@excellerx.com .
About excelleRx
excelleRx, Inc. (http://www.excellerx.com/ ) is the market leader in pharmaceutical care for niche disease markets, providing medication counseling and pharmaceutical distribution services for hospice, chronic pain and organ transplant patients. By combining proprietary technology and clinical experience, excelleRx ensures optimal and cost appropriate use of medication and thereby enhances quality of life.
About Hospice of Michigan
Hospice of Michigan provides comprehensive comfort care to people living with a terminal illness and support to their families. The organization serves more than 1,000 people every day in 45 counties in Michigan. For information about Hospice of Michigan services, call 1-888-247-5181 or visit the Web site, http://www.hom.org/ .
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CONTACT: Dianne Semingson, semingsond@erols.com , +1-215-875-7026, forexcelleRx, Inc.; Orsula Voltis Thomas of excelleRx, Inc.,Orsula@excelleRx.com , +1-215-282-1602; or Barbara Palazzolo of Hospice ofMichigan, bpalazzolo@hom.org , +1-313-578-5041