The transition from hospital to home can be worrisome and stressful for a patient or caregiver. Remembering all the details of a new care plan in addition to a different medication regimen can be overwhelming. Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center has teamed with community pharmacy, Medoz Pharmacy of Polk, to help relieve some of the stresses of leaving the hospital by offering discharge medications delivered to patients’ bedside. This program began October 1, 2016 to improve the transition of care and help patients continue a safe recovery at home.
The program provides:
Heart of Florida’s goal with the Discharge Medication Program is to help reduce patient readmissions and increase patient satisfaction. Since the start of this program, Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center has been able to provide about 750 patients with their discharge medications by using this new service.
“The Medoz Pharmacy Discharge Medication Program gives patients the medications they need to stay on the road to recovery after they leave the hospital” says Uday Desai, pharmacist at Medoz Pharmacy. “We are excited to provide this service to patients and educate them on the importance of the medications they are prescribed.”
“We want our patients at Heart of Florida to get well and stay well,” said Lamar Edwards, Pharmacy Director. “At times, a readmission to the hospital after discharge is the result of lack of adherence to medications.” Patients might not be able to stop and fill a prescription on their way home, might have lingering questions about a change in medications, or might need a medication substitution based on insurance coverage or out-of-pocket costs. This program has the opportunity to resolve any issues or concerns before the patient goes home. “The Discharge Medication Program takes away barriers from a patient receiving the prescriptions they need,” continued Edwards.
By focusing on better ways to help patients transition to home, Heart of Florida and Medoz Pharmacy have created a community-based solution for a healthier, more comfortable home recovery for hospitalized patients. For more information on Medoz Pharmacy, visit www.medozrx.com. For more information on Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center, visit www.HeartOfFlorida.com.
- Bedside delivery of patient prescriptions. All inpatients are eligible to receive bedside delivery of their discharge prescription medications before leaving the hospital or opt-out. Patients who elect to receive this service can also choose to have the discharge medication delivered to their home.
- Patient consultation. A pharmacist or pharmacy technician provides a patient consultation before discharge to understand their medications before they go home and increase compliance with taking prescribed medications.
- At home follow-up call. Medoz Pharmacy calls the patient at home to check in on patient prescriptions and to answer medication-related questions.
Heart of Florida’s goal with the Discharge Medication Program is to help reduce patient readmissions and increase patient satisfaction. Since the start of this program, Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center has been able to provide about 750 patients with their discharge medications by using this new service.
“The Medoz Pharmacy Discharge Medication Program gives patients the medications they need to stay on the road to recovery after they leave the hospital” says Uday Desai, pharmacist at Medoz Pharmacy. “We are excited to provide this service to patients and educate them on the importance of the medications they are prescribed.”
“We want our patients at Heart of Florida to get well and stay well,” said Lamar Edwards, Pharmacy Director. “At times, a readmission to the hospital after discharge is the result of lack of adherence to medications.” Patients might not be able to stop and fill a prescription on their way home, might have lingering questions about a change in medications, or might need a medication substitution based on insurance coverage or out-of-pocket costs. This program has the opportunity to resolve any issues or concerns before the patient goes home. “The Discharge Medication Program takes away barriers from a patient receiving the prescriptions they need,” continued Edwards.
By focusing on better ways to help patients transition to home, Heart of Florida and Medoz Pharmacy have created a community-based solution for a healthier, more comfortable home recovery for hospitalized patients. For more information on Medoz Pharmacy, visit www.medozrx.com. For more information on Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center, visit www.HeartOfFlorida.com.
