Impact of a coordination of care program in an independent community pharmacy.

OBJECTIVE

The first objective was to determine the impact on hospital readmissions at 30- and 90-days after discharge. The second objective was to examine the change in number of medications a patient was taking before enrollment versus after enrollment and potential health care savings.

SETTING

Independent community pharmacy in the southeastern United States.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION

Blue Ridge Pharmacy, Inc. is composed of 2 long-term care pharmacies, 2 community pharmacies, a compounding pharmacy, and a specialty pharmacy.

PRACTICE INNOVATION

The Access Program is a transitions of care and coordination of care program. Sona Access helps patients who have undergone a transition of care from a skilled nursing facility, health system, physician office, or community partner. Access incorporates social care services and medication services such as free home delivery, home visit, monthly care calls, and adherence packaging.

EVALUATION

This retrospective study included participants age 18 years and older who enrolled in the program between March 2015 and March 2016 and had at least 3 months of data. Data collected included patient demographics, reason for referral, admissions to hospitals or skilled nursing facilities, number of medications before enrollment, and number of medications three months after enrollment.

RESULTS

The mean age (±SD) was 70 ± 13.8 years, and 65% of patients were female. The 123 patient enrollments yielded 113 total hospitalizations, resulting in a mean of 0.92 hospitalizations per patient. Pharmacist consultation and reconciliation decreased the average number of medications from 12 to 10 medications per patient. Within the 113 hospitalizations that occurred after enrollment, 5 occurred within 30 days, 13 occurred within 90 days, and 95 occurred at 91 days or greater.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the delivery of coordination of care services through medication reconciliation, medication synchronization, and home visits has a positive effect on health outcomes for patients who have undergone a recent transition of care.