What is a key goal of the Beers Criteria?

The Beers Criteria serves as a vital tool aimed at minimizing the risk of adverse drug reactions in elderly patients. This set of guidelines, developed by the American Geriatrics Society, identifies potentially inappropriate medications that pose significant risks to older adults due to factors such as their physiological changes, multi-morbidities, and polypharmacy. By highlighting medications that should generally be avoided or used with caution, the Beers Criteria seeks to improve patient safety and medication management in this vulnerable population. Thus, its primary goal revolves around promoting better health outcomes by reducing the likelihood of harmful drug interactions and side effects in elderly individuals.