In the United States, medication-related problems and medication errors cause significant health and economic burdens. According to the report, Preventing Medication Errors: Quality Chasm Series, from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), 1.5 million people experience a preventable medication related injury every year, with an estimated $3.5 billion a year in extra medical costs from medication injuries occurring in hospitals alone. Older adults are at particular risk.  Data indicates adults over the age of 65 years are more likely to have an adverse event from medication and be hospitalized from that injury than younger individuals.

Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc., (HQSI) is conducting a patient focused, community based drug safety project to reduce the number of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and drug-on-drug interactions (DDIs) with people with Medicare. The project involves the collaboration among healthcare providers and facilities, community based organizations, beneficiaries, and their caregivers. HQSI plans to share best practices, information, resources, and tools from the project on the HQSI website. 

A key component of this project is a series of free community educational sessions, known as "brown bag" medication reviews. Participants are asked to bring all of their prescriptions and over-the-counter medications to these events, where they will meet one-on-one with a registered pharmacist.

The goals of the medication reviews include helping participants better understand their medications, identify any potential medication problems, and promote safe medication practices.

On our site you will find resources for reducing inappropriate prescribing, educational materials, and links to websites focused on improving medication safety. 

• Learn more about Potentially Inappropriate Medications
• Learn more about Drug-on-Drug Interactions
• View other resources and links

HQSI can also provide technical assistance and guidance on quality improvement methods to assist healthcare providers and practitioners, pharmacies, and prescription drug plans under Medicare Part D with improving drug safety. Please contact us for more information.

•   
• Be aware of all the medications your patients are taking (including over-the-counter medications, vitamins and/or supplements)

•   
• Encourage patients to carry a Personal Medication Record (PMR) and present it at all healthcare visits

•   
• Encourage a family member or caregiver to maintain the PMR, if appropriate

•   
• Review the PMR for PIMs, therapeutic duplications, potential drug interactions, and possible contribution to current patient complaints

•   
• Reconcile medications at transition points of care

•   
• Develop systems to ensure that medication evaluations are performed routinely

•   
• Develop processes to improve communication linkages and information exchange with other providers

•   
• Provide medication counseling to patients and/or their caregivers including:

•   
• Name and purpose of each medication

•   
• When and how to take the medication

•   
• Potential side effects and what to do about them

•   
• Potential problems and interactions with other medications

•   
• Adherence (including identifying barriers to adherence)

•   
• Role of medication in their disease management or recovery process

•   
• Ask patients open-ended questions to ensure understanding and appropriate usage of medications

•   
• Employ “teach-back” technique when providing medication counseling

•   
• Provide patient information at an appropriate health literacy level

•   
• Consider patients' cultural influences