The DC MedsRec group, which is a pharmacy-based service for patients discharged from Box Hill Hospital with 4 or more medications, plan to cut the possible harm from incorrect drug interactions.
The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) and Monash University, have gathered in partnership have formulate a test that will allow qualified patients to meet with skilled community pharmacists who will check their hospital discharge review via My Health Record (MHR) and align other medication information on their Electronic Medical Records (EMRs).
The process would involve a certified pharmacist checking the patient’s comprehension of the medicine that they intake, resolve any probable medicine safety issues and assure any medication-related suggestions from the hospital updates are delivered. They will also recommend disposing of any canceled medications and prescriptions for the patient, with hospital permission.
According to ADHA CEO Tim Kelsey, the aid is part of an $8.5 million scheme that tests innovative and new ideas to post-hospital assistance, palliative care and the management of chronic health conditions using digital technology.
He said that pharmacists who got involved in Box Hill Project can now simply access their patients’ hospital discharge information smoothly via ‘My Health Records’. His main goal is to assure that patients will not return to hospitals because of ingesting the incorrect combination of prescribed drugs.
Greg Duncan, Monash University Project Lead, said that the test commenced due to poor medication management whilst staying or directly after staying in the hospital which resulted to the prevention of 28% hospital readmission in 30 days. He also added that medication errors usually happen after patients leave the hospital and can cause patient readmissions. They team will evaluate the effect of the new service for unscheduled hospital readmission rates.
According to the Chief Executive Adjunct of Eastern Health, Professor David Plunkett, the experiment places the organisation in a position to give outstanding clinical care and research. In addition, pharmacies group from Easter Health with up to 5,000 patients will join the trial.
The new service will be reviewed after 12 months that could possibly form future projects and will serve patients in better managing their medications in the Australian healthcare process.
