A Pharmacist-led QI Project to Optimize Medication Evaluation and Reconciliation in Home Health

  • Room: 275
  • Session Number: 409
Monday, October 24, 2022: 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

Speaker(s)

Faculty
Brian Gates Pharm.D., BCGP
Clinical Professor
Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Description

At least 20-30% of patients receiving home healthcare experience medication-related problems, many of which occur at the transition of care. To ensure optimal care, a pharmacist led interdisciplinary team conducted a quality improvement project at a non-profit home healthcare agency focusing on improving medication reconciliation and evaluation in patients at high risk for hospitalization. The project connected an improvement in medication reconciliation to a reduction in 30-day hospitalizations in patients with heart failure. Prior to the project, the baseline median for 30-day hospitalizations was 20.0%; following full implementation, this dropped 9.1% among patients with heart failure. This presentation describes the development of the interdisciplinary quality improvement team, the approach of the team, the selection of the metrics, the overall results, and future directions for further collaboration between home healthcare agencies and pharmacists.

Topic(s)


Methodology

Course Level: Intermediate; 1.2 Accounting CPEs (NASBA/BMO) 1 Nursing CNEs contact hours

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe outcomes and limitations of this quality improvement project
2. Examine the applicability of the results to other agencies and healthcare settings.
2. Describe the keys to success for this project.

Handout(s)