Assessing the quality of prescribing and monitoring erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in the nursing home setting.

Introduction: As many as 50% of all nursing home (NH) residents meet the World Health Organization criteria for anemia. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and appropriateness of prescribing and monitoring of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) used to treat anemia in the NH setting.

Methods: Cross-sectional, 1-month study of all NH residents in 4 community-based, university-affiliated NHs between January and February 2008.