ORWIGSBURG - A Schuylkill County nursing home has been recognized by the state Department of Health for its overall reduction of anti-psychotic drug use and its policies and procedures will serve as a model for other facilities throughout the nation.
Seton Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation was recognized by the department's Division of Nursing Care Facilities after an annual certification survey on Dec. 5, 2013, revealed the facility reduced its use of anti-psychotic drugs from 23.33 percent to 14.55 percent over the year.
"It has only been a positive thing for them," Jackie Robinson, facility administrator, said Friday.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in 2012 to reduce the use of anti-psychotics and pursue more patient-centered treatment for dementia and other behavioral health care. The goal was to limit anti-psychotic drug use to 15 percent by the end of 2013.
The coalition includes long-term care providers, caregivers and advocates, medical and quality improvement experts, government agencies and consumers to improve the quality of life for the 1.5 million nursing home residents throughout the country.
At the department of health's request, Seton Manor will submit its policies and procedures used in achieving this goal so that it may help other homes struggling with the challenges of reducing anti-psychotic drug use.
"When you have the department of health reach out and ask you to help other homes, I think it is a huge achievement," Shanna Wertz, social services director at Seton Manor, said.
There are currently 115 residents there. The dementia unit has 26 residents.
Terry Brennan, certified director of nursing, said the national effort is the result of more studies being done on the effects of anti-psychotic drugs in recent years.
"We look at all the alternatives and try everything before we go to medication," Brennan said. "We have a good team here."
Seton Manor has an in-house team that includes doctors, counselors and the staff who review each resident's medication. Another committee including nurses and activities director also look at that person's behavior and how they transition to the new environment.
"If they improve, we see if we can cut back," Brennan said.
However, if the staff notices unusual behavior, the nursing home has to reconsider its strategy.
"It's our job to get to know the resident," Wertz said.
Wertz said the process is very individualized and includes everyone from the patients' doctors and pharmacy to their families. It is also the staff's job to educate the patients' families about the anti-psychotic drugs they are using and keeping them updated on any changes in behavior.
"We want to maintain that quality of life for everyone here despite their diagnoses," Brennan said.
Seton Manor, located at 1000 Seton Drive, Orwigsburg, is a 79,000-square-foot facility with 120 beds. Opened in 1999, the nursing home was named after the first native-born American to be proclaimed a saint in the Catholic Church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
For more information, call 570-366-0400 or visit www.setonmanor.org.