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Pharmacist-Led Discharge Medication Counseling and its Corresponding Impact on Medication Adherence and Hospital
Savannah Cunningham1, Joshua D Kinsey1
1Mercer University College of Pharmacy.
Innovations in Pharmacy
|May 19, 2021
Summary
Pharmacist-led discharge counseling significantly improved medication adherence (84.4% vs 62.8%) and reduced hospital readmissions (3% vs 24%). This highlights the value of pharmacist interventions in patient care post-discharge.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Patient Care
Background:
- Pharmacist discharge counseling and bedside delivery programs are known to reduce hospital readmissions and improve medication adherence.
- Hospitals face Medicare penalties for 30-day readmissions, creating financial incentives for effective discharge programs.
- Collaboration between community pharmacies and hospitals can enhance patient care quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of pharmacist discharge medication counseling and a bedside delivery program on medication adherence within six weeks post-discharge.
- To assess the effect of this intervention on hospital readmission rates.
- To foster collaboration between community pharmacies and hospitals to improve patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study design with an intervention group (received counseling) and a control group (did not receive counseling).
- Data collected included patient demographics, disease states, gender, and insurance coverage (n=81).
- Medication adherence was measured using the Proportion of Days Covered (PDC) equation (≥80% for optimal efficacy); follow-up phone calls assessed adherence and side effects.
Main Results:
- The intervention group achieved significantly higher medication adherence rates (84.4% PDC) compared to the control group (62.8% PDC) (p<0.001).
- Pharmacist-led counseling significantly reduced hospital readmission rates, with a 3% rate in the intervention group versus 24% in the control group (p=0.022).
- The intervention group met the threshold for optimal therapeutic efficacy (PDC ≥80%), while the control group did not.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacist involvement in bedside delivery programs significantly improves medication adherence for hospital discharge patients.
- These interventions lead to a statistically significant reduction in hospital readmission rates.
- The study underscores the critical role of pharmacists in bridging hospital and community care to optimize patient outcomes.
Keywords:
AdherenceBedside DeliveryFollow-up CareHospital ReadmissionPatient CounselingSpecialty PharmacyTransitions of CareMore Related Videos
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