Pilot program expands in 2016

A pilot program that provides home visits from a pharmacist reduced the number of preventable hospital readmissions for frail elderly patients, according to a new report from HealthPartners. Started as a pilot in 2014, the medication therapy management (MTM) home visit program focuses on patients with serious, chronic illnesses, who take multiple medications and are unable to leave their homes.

Patients who choose to participate in the program are visited by a clinical pharmacist within a week after leaving Regions Hospital. During the visit, the pharmacist reviews medications, helps the patient understand how to take medications as prescribed and evaluates whether there are any safety risks in the home. There is no charge to patients for the visits.

The most common medication problems identified by the visits include:

  • Medication is no longer needed or a new medication is needed
  • Medication is not being taken as prescribed
  • A dose is too high

ResultsAmong patients who received a home visit in the first year, 6 percent were readmitted to Regions Hospital within 30-days after a hospital stay. That is less than half of the readmission rate (16 percent) among patients who did not to receive the MTM home visits.

“This pilot program shows that pharmacists are an important part of the care team in supporting patients with chronic illnesses which can also help patients avoid an unnecessary hospital visit,” said Rick Bruzek, PharmD, HealthPartners vice president of pharmacy services.

In 2016, HealthPartners is expanding this program by partnering with Ramsey County paramedics to provide MTM home visits to patients with heart failure. Read the report.

About HealthPartnersHealthPartners is the largest consumer-governed, non-profit health care organization in the nation with a mission to improve health and well-being in partnership with members, patients and the community. For more information, visit healthpartners.com.

HealthPartnersPatricia Lund, 952-883-5487Media Pager, 651-629-0411patricia.a.lund@healthpartners.com