Senior PharmAssist: Less Hospital Use with Enrollment in an Innovative Community‐Based Program

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate changes in acute health services use of Senior PharmAssist participants. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting Community‐based, nonprofit program in Durham County, North Carolina. Participants Adults aged 60 and older with income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less who enrolled in the Senior PharmAssist program (N = 191) between August 1, 2011, and March 15, 2017. Intervention Medication therapy management (MTM), customized community referrals, Medicare insurance counseling, and medication copayment assistance provided by Senior PharmAssist. Measurements Primary outcomes were self‐reported emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions in the previous year, assessed at baseline and every 6 months for up to 2 years. Results Mean number of ED visits declined over time (0.83 visits per year at baseline to 0.53 visits per year at 24 months, P = .002), as did the percentage of participants reporting an ED visit in the past year (49% at baseline to 31% at 24 months, P = .003). Mean hospital admissions also decreased (0.56 admissions per year at baseline to 0.4 admissions per year at 24 months, P = .02). There was no significant change in percentage of participants reporting a hospital admission in the past year (33% at baseline to 25% at 24 months, P = .23). Conclusion Older adults who enrolled in a community‐based program that helps them manage medications, connect with community resources, and overcome barriers to medication access experienced reductions in acute health services use. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2394–2400, 2018.

Utilizing clinical pharmacists and a medication assistance program to improve medication access for indigent and underserved patients in primary care

“… 5 Unlike previous studies, no significant differences were found regarding hospital visits, ED visits, or combined hospital and ED visits. 5 , 6 , 7 Compared to other studies, this study is unique due to collaboration between clinical pharmacists and MAP coordinator to improve outcomes and prevent disease progression while ensuring patients are successfully accessing previously unaffordable medications. 6 , 7 Utilization of the MAP coordinator increases efficiency of the MAP application process as well as reduces the burden and difficulty of completing the initial application, refill requests, and application renewals.…”

“… 5 , 6 , 7 Compared to other studies, this study is unique due to collaboration between clinical pharmacists and MAP coordinator to improve outcomes and prevent disease progression while ensuring patients are successfully accessing previously unaffordable medications. 6 , 7 Utilization of the MAP coordinator increases efficiency of the MAP application process as well as reduces the burden and difficulty of completing the initial application, refill requests, and application renewals. A MAP coordinator is a vital component to our successful MAP process for indigent and underserved patient populations.…”

“…Herity and colleagues (2018) concluded that enrollment in a community-based program that helps seniors manage medications, connect with community resources, and overcome barriers to medication access displayed a reduction in acute health service use. 7 …”

Participatory research to improve medication reconciliation for older adults in the community

“…From 2015 to 2020, the Duke Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program—a grant‐funded workforce development program—partnered with Senior PharmAssist, a community‐based organization focused on the medication and insurance needs of older adults in Durham, North Carolina 24,25 . During this time, it was determined that medication reconciliation for community‐dwelling under‐resourced older adults was a pressing concern and the Durham Medication Reconciliation Initiative was formed.…”

“…From 2015 to 2020, the Duke Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program-a grant-funded workforce development program-partnered with Senior PharmAssist, a community-based organization focused on the medication and insurance needs of older adults in Durham, North Carolina. 24,25 During this time, it was determined that medication reconciliation for community-dwelling underresourced older adults was a pressing concern and the Durham Medication Reconciliation Initiative was formed. The Initiative's leadership team included representatives from Senior PharmAssist, several academically-affiliated providers, and a university-based community-engaged research group, the Community Engaged Research Initiative (CERI) within the Duke Medical Center Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).…”