Integrating the Role of Pharmacists in Medication Management for At-Risk Patients | AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange

Integrating the Role of Pharmacists in Medication Management for At-Risk Patients | AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange

Integrating the Role of Pharmacists in Medication Management for At-Risk Patients

Individuals with chronic illnesses often do not adhere to their medication regimens (especially complex ones), typically because they find doing so to be challenging or burdensome, particularly over long periods of time. These challenges are especially pronounced for low-income, uninsured, and elderly individuals who may not receive adequate support in understanding and managing their medications.

This issue’s featured Innovations describe two programs that used different approaches to integrate the delivery of medication management services by pharmacists into care for at-risk patients.

The featured QualityTools include a toolkit that supports the implementation and evaluation of medication therapy management programs, and an interactive Web site that promotes safe and appropriate medication use by older adults.

Featured Innovations:

• Pharmacy Teams Use Telepharmacy To Provide Medication Management to At-Risk Patients in Safety Net Clinics, Leading to Better Outcomes and Lower Utilization and Costs
• Pharmacists Integrated Within Patient-Centered Care Teams Help At-Risk Patients Manage Medications, Leading to Better Outcomes and Lower Costs

Featured QualityTools:

• Improving Medication Safety in High Risk Medicare Beneficiaries Toolkit
• Medication Use Safety Training (MUST) for Seniors™

Also in This Issue:

Innovations

• Statewide Association Creates Nation’s First Statewide Patient and Family Engagement Advisory Council, Increasing Adoption of Leading Practices by Member Hospitals

QualityTools

• Planning and Implementing Screening and Brief Intervention for Risky Alcohol Use: A Step-by-Step Guide for Primary Care Practices

Events

• 2015 AHRQ Research Conference