STATEMENT

Conctact: Jim Suydam, 512-417-5382

 

Statement by Kevin Warren, President and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association on the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes

“Reducing the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes is a national issue and a top priority in Texas. THCA and its members are committed to improving lives by safely reducing unnecessary antipsychotic use. Because of the efforts of these dedicated Texans to educate and engage their communities, Texas has achieved a 42 percent reduction in the prevalence of anti-psychotic use for long stay residents.

THCA and its members do not support relabeling a person to justify medication use. Actions like these that jeopardize the dignity and safety of any resident should be condemned. Our Association and its members support efforts to prevent such abhorrent behavior.

The shift in diagnoses alone is not enough to explain the continuous reduction in antipsychotic medication use in skilled nursing facilities. Collaboration between providers, regulators, advocates, and clinicians, is why Texas is seeing improvement. While significant progress has been made, more must be done. THCA is committed to continuing to work with members and others to offer resources and programs to raise awareness of these issues and help improve quality of care.”

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About THCA
Founded in 1950, the Texas Health Care Association (THCA) is the largest long term care association in Texas. THCA’s membership is comprised of several hundred licensed nonprofit and for-profit skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), specialized rehabilitation facilities and assisted living facilities in Texas. These facilities provide comprehensive, around-the-clock nursing care for chronically ill or short-term residents of all ages, along with rehabilitative and specialized medical programs. THCA also represents more than 190 long term care businesses that provide products and services to the state’s approximately 2,850 nursing homes and assisted living facilities. To learn more, visit http://txhca.org/ or connect with THCA on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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