Medication management care transition guide available

After receiving input from more than 80 institutions across the United States, the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) developed a new medication management care transition guide.

“Pharmacists’ leadership is integral to improving patient care throughout the entire medication-use process and all care settings. The programs highlighted in this report demonstrate how to improve medication adherence and reduce adverse drug events and hospital re-admissions,” said Paul W. Abramowitz, PharmD, CEO of ASHP.

The ASHP-APhA Medication Management in Care Transitions Best Practices identifies 8 programs that were distinguished as best practices because of their impacts of the care transitions model on patient care and pharmacist involvement in the transition process from inpatient to home settings. The 8 programs with the best transition programs include: Einstein Healthcare Network, Froedtert Hospital, Hennepin County Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mission Hospitals, Sharp HealthCare, the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

The 8 organizations’ programs best demonstrate that patients benefit from the pharmacists’ medication expertise on care transitions teams. In addition, the successful transitions in these organizations depend on contributions by pharmacists, technicians, student pharmacists, supportive personnel, and other healthcare providers.