Leveraging informatics to optimise pharmacist-led medication reviews in residential aged care

Project contacts

Project information

Medication-related problems cause an estimated 250,000 hospitalisations annually in Australia, costing an estimated AU$1.4 billion. Older people in residential aged care (RAC) are at an increased risk of experiencing medication-related problems, significantly impacting their quality of life.

Pharmacist-led medication management reviews can significantly reduce such medication-related problems. When well conducted and recommended changes actioned, MMRs can lead to fewer overall medications used, fewer potentially inappropriate medications and decreased risk of all-cause mortality, and improved cost-effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for residents. However, there is poor uptake of medication management reviews in RAC, with only 40% of people receiving a review during their time in RAC.

The current approach is ad-hoc, there is poor monitoring follow-up and outcomes of MMRs, and there is no evidence-based approach to identifying who would benefit from a review.

Aims

The overarching aim is to utilise informatics to develop a one-stop platform for all stakeholders, including pharmacists, GPs, residents and their families/carers, and RAC staff to access and monitor the MMR process to ensure reviews are meaningful and conducted in a timely manner.

The project aims are to:
Develop and validate a dynamic model to identify residents at risk of medication-related problems	Develop and test an eMMR-portal to track the medication review process using user-centred design Assess the impact of the intervention on medication use and resident outcomes through a cluster trial	Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the eMMR-portal relative to current practice

We are working closely with all stakeholders and our consumer panel of people with lived experience of a loved one in RAC to develop, test and evaluate the intervention.