Impact of a Pharmacist on Medication Reconciliation on Patient Admission to a Veterans Affairs Medical Center

PURPOSE: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase pharmacist involvement in the outpatient hospice transition process to improve care of veterans, prevent medication errors, and to ensure medications are provided to the patient via the appropriate pharmacy.METHODS: This project began with implementation of a pilot process for the pharmacist to complete medication reconciliation for each patient admitted to non-Veterans Affairs (VA) hospice care from the Omaha VA Medical Center. The second step of this project was completion of a retrospective chart review of the interventions made. Statistical analysis was completed via descriptive statistics.RESULTS: A total of 21 patients were eligible for this study. The mean age was 78 years. The average total number of medications per veteran before and after medication reconciliation for VA meds were 13 and 4 and for non-VA meds were 4 and 6, respectively. The average total cost savings for one fill of all medications changed to non-VA was estimated to be $40.08. The pharmacist noted on average 12.6 medication discrepancies during medication reconciliation per veteran. Just less than half of the clinical recommendations made by the pharmacist were accepted by the providers.CONCLUSIONS: All veterans admitted to non-VA hospice care had at least one medication discrepancy noted by the pharmacist during medication reconciliation. A majority of the veterans had at least one VA medication changed to non-VA since hospice was now prescribing and providing. The cost savings on average appear to outweigh the time spent on medication reconciliation by the pharmacist.

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Pharmacist-Run Medication Reconciliation for Veterans Admitted to Non-Veterans Affairs Hospice Care

The Senior Care Pharmacist ◽

10.4140/tcp.n.2021.42 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 42-48

Author(s):

Anne Alley ◽

Holly Dorscheid ◽

Kathryn Hentzen

Keyword(s):

Medication Reconciliation ◽

Hospice Care ◽

Medical Center ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Transition Process ◽

Veterans Affairs ◽

Improvement Project ◽

Before And After ◽

The Cost

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase pharmacist involvement in the outpatient hospice transition process to improve care of veterans, prevent medication errors, and to ensure medications are provided to the patient via the appropriate pharmacy. Methods: This project began with implementation of a pilot process for the pharmacist to complete medication reconciliation for each patient admitted to non-Veterans Affairs (VA) hospice care from the Omaha VA Medical Center. The second step of this project was completion of a retrospective chart review of the interventions made. Statistical analysis was completed via descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 21 patients were eligible for this study. The mean age was 78 years. The average total number of medications per veteran before and after medication reconciliation for VA meds were 13 and 4 and for non-VA meds were 4 and 6, respectively. The average total cost savings for one fill of all medications changed to non-VA was estimated to be $40.08. The pharmacist noted on average 12.6 medication discrepancies during medication reconciliation per veteran. Just less than half of the clinical recommendations made by the pharmacist were accepted by the providers. Conclusions: All veterans admitted to non-VA hospice care had at least one medication discrepancy noted by the pharmacist during medication reconciliation. A majority of the veterans had at least one VA medication changed to non-VA since hospice was now prescribing and providing. The cost savings on average appear to outweigh the time spent on medication reconciliation by the pharmacist.

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Too Much to Bear

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000355 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 59-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nicole J. Peak ◽

James C. Overholser ◽

Josephine Ridley ◽

Abby Braden ◽

Lauren Fisher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Concurrent Validity ◽

Medical Center ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Diagnostic Interview ◽

Veterans Affairs ◽

Self Report ◽

Perceived Burdensomeness ◽

Scale Method

Abstract. Background: People who feel they have become a burden on others may become susceptible to suicidal ideation. When people no longer feel capable or productive, they may assume that friends and family members would be better off without them. Aim: The present study was designed to assess preliminary psychometric properties of a new measure, the Perceived Burdensomeness (PBS) Scale. Method: Depressed psychiatric patients (N = 173) were recruited from a veterans affairs medical center. Patients were assessed with a structured diagnostic interview and self-report measures assessing perceived burdensomeness, depression severity, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation. Results: The present study supported preliminary evidence of reliability and concurrent validity of the PBS. Additionally, perceived burdensomeness was significantly associated with higher levels of hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Conclusion: It is hoped that with the aid of the PBS clinicians may be able to intervene more specifically in the treatment of suicidality.

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