Empowering Recovery Through Bedside Medication Accessibility

Introduction The Meds to Beds (MTB) program aims to enhance medication adherence and reduce hospital readmissions by delivering prescribed medications directly to patients' bedsides before discharge. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the MTB program in reducing 90-day readmission rates in a community teaching hospital. Methods This prospective study was conducted at a 159-bed community teaching hospital in Boston, MA. The study included 63 patients discharged from emergency, medical, or surgical units with at least one newly prescribed medication. Patients served as their own controls, with readmission rates compared to 90 days before and after the MTB intervention. Data were collected from electronic medical records, and paired t-tests were used to assess statistical significance, with a p-value <0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Principal findings The study included 63 patients who received their medications before discharge. The mean number of admissions significantly decreased from 1.52 pre-intervention to 0.47 post-intervention (p < 0.001). Key interventions included prescription retrieval, addressing medication access barriers, and bedside delivery with personalized counseling. Conclusions The implementation of the MTB program significantly reduced hospital readmissions, improved medication adherence, and enhanced patient satisfaction. Addressing barriers such as transportation, high copays, and pharmacy accessibility empowered patients to adhere to prescribed regimens. This study highlights the potential benefits of expanding the MTB program to other healthcare settings to enhance care quality and reduce readmission rates.