Healthcare Quarterly, 23(3) October 2020: 34-39.doi:10.12927/hcq.2020.26335
Innovation in Health Services
Cost Impact of a Pharmacist-Driven Medication Reconciliation Program during Transitions to Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
Abstract
The current provincial funding model in Ontario, Canada, does not offer dedicated funding to drive medication reconciliation (MedRec) programs during transitions into long-term care and retirement homes. This economic analysis aimed to estimate potential cost savings attributed to hospitalizations averted and decreases in polypharmacy by a MedRec program from a healthcare payer perspective. From a pool of 6,678 pharmacist recommendations, a limited sample of recommendations targeting specific medication-related adverse events showed potential savings of $622.35 per patient from hospital admissions avoided and of $1,414.52 per patient per year from medication discontinuations. Pharmacist-driven MedRec, conducted virtually, delivers substantial healthcare savings.
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Comments
marc pelletier wrote:
Posted 2021/01/19 at 01:53 PM EST
Excellent piece. Accreditation Canada, Canadian Patient Safety Institute and other related bodies need to strengthen med rec in their standards, processes and education. Health Authorities who often manage contracts for services of private pharmacies need to strengthen their expectation of med rec from the contracted pharmacies. Do you guys see this evolution happening at scale? Do you see a way to empower residents and their families to more directly engage (perhaps an app?)
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