Clinical pharmacy services in a hospital-based home care program

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• The Veterans Administration Medical Center in San Francisco established the Hospital-Based Home Care (HBHC) Program.
• This program aims to provide continuous, specialized medical services to veterans in their homes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the multidisciplinary team approach used in the HBHC program.
• To detail the specific professional services offered by clinical pharmacists within this home care setting.

Main Methods:

• The HBHC program utilizes a multidisciplinary team including nurses, dieticians, physical therapists, pharmacists, physicians, and social workers.
• Clinical pharmacists provide medication regimen evaluation, patient counseling, drug therapy consultation, and serve as a liaison with outpatient pharmacy services.

Main Results:

• The program ensures comprehensive healthcare delivery directly in the veteran patient's home.
• Clinical pharmacists play a crucial role in medication management, patient education, and inter-team communication.

Conclusions:

• The HBHC program effectively extends specialized medical care to veterans at home.
• The integration of clinical pharmacists enhances medication safety and continuity of care within the home healthcare model.