Improve medication safety at discharge with the OPTMED-D project

OPTMED-D project

The University of Queensland wants to improve medication safety at discharge and has a clinical trial underway to test a multifaceted intervention designed to improve communication between health professionals during a patient’s transition from hospital to community care.

They are inviting GPs, HMR (Home Medicines Review) credentialed pharmacists and community pharmacists in selected study areas/postcodes to participate. To express interest or learn more, please contact them at OPTMED-D@uq.edu.au or refer to their project website.

The study is currently evaluating the implementation of hospital pharmacist navigators in seven hospitals in Gold Coast and Brisbane South in a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial. Primary care pathways to be initiated by the navigators include post-discharge medication management reviews by community pharmacists (medium risk patients – MedsCheck) and credentialed pharmacists (high risk patients – Home Medicines Review).

Key features for GPs:

• The hospital pharmacist navigator will facilitate discharge medication information transfer to GPs for medium and high-risk patients.
• GPs will be asked to refer high-risk patients for HMRs, conducted by credentialed pharmacists.
• HMR results and post-discharge MedsCheck outcomes will be shared with GPs to inform ongoing patient care.
• RACGP accredited activities will be promoted soon, including education for GPs in study areas and self-directed measuring outcomes activity available for all GPs.

Key features for HMR credentialed pharmacists:

• We are offering to connect credentialed pharmacists with GPs for HMR referral.
• If you would like to be a part of this, please complete this form.
• Participating HMR pharmacists will conduct a post-discharge HMR for high-risk patients and share their findings with the patients’ GPs.
• Pharmacists will be provided with training resources that may be used for CPD.

Key features for community pharmacists:

• Participating community pharmacists will conduct a post-discharge MedsCheck for medium-risk patients and share their findings with the patients’ GPs.
• Community pharmacies completing a post-discharge MedsCheck will receive an additional $30 remuneration plus a $5 administration fee for each review.
• Pharmacists will be provided with training resources that may be used for CPD.

The University of Queensland believes this innovative intervention can significantly reduce 30-day hospital readmissions by fostering better communication among health professionals.