Medication Management Tapping the Pharmacists Expertise for Employees with Multiple Medications

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Medication Management Tapping the Pharmacists
Expertise for Employees with Multiple Medications
Rosemarie Patodia, BScPhm, CGP Pharmacist,
Manager, Pharmacy Marketing and Professional
Services Shoppers Drug Mart
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Agenda

• The medication review (MedsCheck) process
• The importance of medication review
• Benefits to your organization
• What can you do?
• Some examples
• Summary
• Questions

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What is a medication review?

• A detailed review of all medications, including
• Role of each medication
• Optimal use
• Monitoring and outcomes
• Interactions (including OTCs and natural health
  products)
• Special tips and information

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The Ontario MedsCheck Program

• A medication review program introduced by the
  Ontario Ministry of Health April 2007
• Eligibility
• Anyone with an OHIP card
• 3 or more chronic medications
• Can be done annually, with an additional
  follow-up review within 12 months of the initial
  medication review
• Of the 250,000 completed to date, about 10 were
  for non-ODB recipients

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Why is it Important?

• Identifies potential medication-related problems
  (pharmacist-recommended solutions)
• Improves medication adherence
• Optimizes utilization of appropriate therapies
• Enhances knowledge level of the patient

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Benefits to your organization

• Optimizes health outcomes by
• Helping employees understand the role of their
  medications for their overall health
• Promoting proper use of medications, and
• Empowering employees to take charge of their
  health conditions

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Benefits to your organization

• Reduces drug plan costs by
• Identifying inappropriate medications
• Preventing future medication-related
  complications that potentially require more
  prescription therapies
• Optimizing medication use to prevent devastating
  events (e.g. heart attack, stroke)
• Win-win situation!
• Employees are healthier and more productive
• Less wasted resources from drug plans

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What can you do?

• Raise awareness of the medication review
  opportunity
• Promote the availability of this service to all
  employees through appropriate internal
  communication vehicles
• Provide information about the benefits of a
  medication review and how to prepare for it
• Connect with your local Shoppers Drug Mart
  Pharmacy to facilitate the process for employees
• Contact SDM at www.healthwatchforbusiness.ca for
  more information

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The case of KW

• KWs medication review uncovers
• She keeps 15 medications on hand at home
• She has duplicate medications to treat anxiety
  and insomnia
• She carries one angina patch (nitroglycerin) in
  her medication bag because she believes she has
  some angina sometimes

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The case of KW

• How the pharmacist helped KW
• Consulted with her physician regarding her
  duplicate therapies and about her angina to
  determine her need for ongoing treatment
• Resolved confusion about her medications
• Cautioned her about the duplicate therapies and
  arranged to follow up after discussion with her
  physician

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The case of RK

• RKs medication review shows
• He has a chronic lung condition for which he
  takes inhalers but is using two inhalers of the
  same class that should not be taken together
  also, his inhaler technique is not completely
  correct
• He was using a certain inhaler quite frequently,
  indicating that he may be having some trouble
  breathing
• He is over 50 and does not have adequate calcium
  and vitamin D intake he thinks that
  osteoporosis is for women

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The case of RK

• How the pharmacist helped
• Demonstrated and re-taught inhaler technique for
  RK
• Reviewed the purpose of each inhaler
• Discussed with him that there appears to be
  duplication and contacted his doctor to confirm
• Advised him on appropriate calcium and vitamin D
  intake for his age to avoid osteoporosis and
  assisted him with supplements

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Medication review outcomes

• SDM Pharmacists document the types of problems
  addressed
• Addressed adherence issues
• Taught proper use of medical devices
• Simplified medication regimen
• Resolved side effects or interactions
• Recommended dosage change
• Recommended discontinuation or substitution of an
  inappropriate medication
• Recommended more cost-effective medication

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Take home messages

• A medication review is a personalized,
  comprehensive discussion with your pharmacist to
  review your medication profile
• A simple solution that impacts on medication
  adherence and appropriate utilization of
  medications
• First step? Speak with your Shoppers Drug Mart
  Pharmacist to set up an appointment!

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Questions?