Health Literacy Tools for Providers of Medication Therapy Management

Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is a patient-centric and comprehensive approach to improve medication use, reduce the risk of adverse events, and improve medication adherence. The following health literacy tools can improve communication with MTM patients.

MTM Component	Health Literacy Tools
Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR) – an interactive person-to-person or telehealth medication review and consultation conducted in real time between the patient and/or other authorized individual, such as prescriber or caregiver, and the pharmacist or other qualified provider. CMR is designed to improve patients’ knowledge of their prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, herbal therapies, and dietary supplements; identify and address problems or concerns that patients may have; and empower patients to self-manage their medications and their health conditions. Targeted Medication Review (TMR) – ongoing medication monitoring that may address specific or potential medication-related problems.	AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit. This toolkit provides evidence-based guidance to ensure that systems are in place to promote better understanding by patients. The toolkit contains 21 tools, including: Conduct Brown Bag Medicine Reviews Communicate Clearly Use the Teach-Back Method Encourage Questions Address Language Differences Consider Culture, Customs, and Beliefs Connect Patients with Literacy and Math Resources
Medication Action Plan (MAP) – a description of the specific action items resulting from the interactive CMR consultation, the beneficiary’s responsibilities, and the health care provider activities that may affect the beneficiary’s tasks. Personal Medication List (PML) - a reconciled list of all the medicines the beneficiary uses (i.e., active medicines).	Use every day language. See guidance. Stick to the essentials. See guidance. Address the beneficiary directly. See guidance. Provide simple instructions and examples. See guidance. Use Explicit and Standardized Prescription Medicine Instructions. These tested instructions for pills follow the Universal Medication Schedule (UMS), which simplifies complex medicine regimens by using standard time periods for administration (morning, noon, evening, and bedtime). Available in English, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Intervention, Referral, and Followup	Direct Patients to Medicine Resources. This tool helps you connect patients who need financial assistance to available resources. Make Referrals Easy. This tool describes steps you can take to increase the likelihood that patients will follow through on referrals. Provide patients with resources to manage their medicines. Help Patients to Remember How and When to Take Their Medicines Taking Care of Myself How to Create a Pill Card Manual Follow Up with Patients. This tool explains the options for following up.
Web Page About MTM Program	Health Literacy Online. A guide to writing and designing easy-to-use health Web sites. Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT). A tool to assess whether patients will find the information easy to understand and act on.
Processes to Improve Outcomes	Pharmacy Health Literacy Assessment Tool User's Guide. This assessment tool describes how to capture the perspectives of three critical audiences: objective auditors, pharmacy staff, and patients. Strategies To Improve Communication Between Staff and Patients: Training Program for Pharmacy Staff. A training curriculum for pharmacy staff members who regularly interact with patients.

Page last reviewed July 2017
Page originally created July 2017

Internet Citation: Health Literacy Tools for Providers of Medication Therapy Management. Content last reviewed July 2017. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/pharmhealthlit/mtm.html