“Every year, 250,000 Australians are admitted to hospital due to medication related problems. At least 50% of these admissions could be avoided by better medicine management. ”
“As our population ages, more people are living with multiple chronic diseases with an associated increase in polypharmacy. A well-structured medication review will minimise medicine-related problems and optimise intended therapeutic outcomes for patients.”
general practitioners
Having an understanding of how your patient is managing at home can help you make different decisions on treatment. The Home Medicines Review (HMR) Program is for patients living in the community and is designed to enhance the quality use of medicines and reduce the number of adverse medicine events. This patient-focused collaborative medication review involves a GP consultation to generate the referral, a pharmacist interview with the patient, and a written report back to the GP.
patients
How well do you know your medicines? When medicines are not used correctly there can be serious consequences. A Home Medicines Review (HMR) can help you to gain knowledge and understanding of the medicines you are using and how they work. It is a way for your pharmacist and GP to help you manage your medicines at home, ensuring you are getting the best from your medicines.
aged care facilities
Optimising medicines use in older people is a complex balance between disease management and avoiding medicine-related problems. Regular medication reviews in the elderly residents of long‐term care facilities is important to identify those at high risk of harm from polypharmacy and to reassess the need for specific medicines in an individual.
Pharmacists can play a pivotal role in improving resident health outcomes through the provision of residential medication review services, such as a Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR), and quality use of medicines (QUM) services.
Supporting CANCER patients
Patients receiving anticancer medicines are at high risk of adverse events caused by the toxicity and complexity of their treatment protocols. On average, patients with cancer have three comorbidities and are taking nine medications for cancer treatment, supportive care and co-morbid conditions.
Primary care has an important role in supporting patients receiving anticancer therapy. With good supportive care, side effects are minimised, leading to better quality of life for the patient and less distress for them and their family.