HomeMeds

Social workers and staff of aging service organizations use HomeMeds software to indentify potential medication problems for their clients. A consultant pharmacist then resolves these problems, in partnership with other members of the care team.

During a home visit, staff document the client's history of falls, dizziness and confusion, vital signs and symptoms and input a list of medications in the client's home. This information allows a consultant pharmacist to review and resolve medication problems in collaboration with the prescriber, case manager, and/or client/family.

The HomeMeds system addresses problems including:

• Inappropriate duplication such as generic and brand name of the same medication or two versions of the same type of drug
• Falls, dizziness or confusion caused by psychoactive drugs
• Problems involving cardiovascular medications
• Inappropriate use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like Aleve or Motrin) in patients at high risk of gastric bleeding.

The program can also serve as a complement to other EBLC programs whose attendees are well enough to complete the HomeMeds data form at home, and then have staff enter the medications into the web-based software.