News

Med Review Service Worthwhile

New research found 90% of patients who received a medication review by a hospital pharmacist after leaving hospital said they felt more confident and less confused about their medicines. 

Monash Health researchers reviewed how patients and GPs felt about the Hospital Outreach Medication Review (HOMR) service at the  hospital, in the study published in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.  As part of the service, a hospital based clinical pharmacist visits a person at home to review their medicines and help them understand their medicines.  A report with the reasons the medicines were started, changed or stopped is then sent to the person’s GP, nominated community pharmacist and any specialist.  The study found doctors appreciated the reports, with almost all agreeing with the recommendations and adopting some or all of the changes. 

Although many patients were initially unsure of the home visit or thought it was unnecessary, Ian Larmour, Emeritus Director of Pharmacy at Monash Health said once the patients had a conversation with the clinical pharmacist, they found the service “very helpful” and that it “enables them to ask any questions in a relaxed environment”. 

“Hospital pharmacists are particularly suited to this role as they work across different clinical areas in hospitals and therefore have well-developed clinical knowledge on the safe and effective use of medicines. They also have excellent communication skills due to their extensive experience in counselling patients about their medicines,” Larmour said.

Source: pharmacydaily.com.au, Tuesday 13 October 2015