Talking With Your Pharmacist

BackgroundMultiple meds & comorbidities increase

with age

Adults 60 and older have an average of four chronic conditions with multiple medications

As the number of medications increases, so does risk of adverse drug effects and management problems

Med Coordination Partners Needed!

Medication coordination gaps between providers

Older adults are the most underused resource

Program is needed to enhance older adults’ medication communication and management skills

UW School of Pharmacy ProjectEncouraged by the Community-Academic

Aging Research Network (CAARN) Jane Mahoney and Jill Ballard

Med-Wise Project Co-Directors Beth Martin and Betty Chewning, UW School of PharmacyTogether designed the Med Wise Program

Wisconsin is lucky…and proudState law requires consultation on ALL prescriptions (new and refill)

Pharmacists are accessible

Pharmacist networks for quality care

Pharmacies offer MTM services… including immunizations, CMRs

Med Wise Program Goals

To increase older adults’ ability to manage their medications safely

To improve older adults’ skills to talk with their pharmacists (and other providers) about their medications

Med Wise Program3 group sessions to improve patient

communication and role played asking their questions with pharmacists!

Identify risks and benefits with medication use; pharmacists’ role & why updated medication list is key

Reinforce importance of own questions, ways to ask key questions, understand how to fit into schedule

Med Wise Program Was Piloted

Collaboration between UW School of Pharmacy & Portage County ADRC with Director, Janet Zander

Conducted 1 round of 3 classes with 7 older adults

In the dead of winter and still they came!

Summary of Key PointsTry to simplify your regimen schedule with

the help of your pharmacist and Med Chart.

For new medicines, ask 3 “magic” questions 3 P’s

For refills, tell your pharmacist about changes in symptoms and medicines in the past month.

Bring questions. Talk to your pharmacist.

We Learned So Much!Thank you Janet!

Branding, publicizing and recruiting

Shorten to 2 sessions and make 1.5 hours

Change the name from “Engaging” to “Talking To”

Important to have the pharmacist there for role plays

What Did Preliminary Data Suggest? (N=7)

Pre-post surveys suggested that people increased:Knowledge about pharmacists’ roles and lawsBelief in carrying updated medication listBelief in using the pharmacist for medication

questionsPerceived likelihood they would interact more

actively: Ask the RPh questions even when not asked Express their opinions when they disagree with the RPh Routinely ask a pharmacist questions Ask for more information until satisfied with answer Ask even when RPh & patient were busy

Next StepsTwo of the participants have undergone

training to offer the program; intend to train others from counties

Wrote a Baldwin grant proposal and just received word that we were fundedCollaboration between ADRC’s and CAARN Adams, Calumet, Green Lake, Marquette,

Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca, Waushara2 year funding begins July 1Goal to enroll 300 older adults in the 2 years

Bridging The Gaps Together