Med Pro program
Medication Tray Refill and Monitoring Program
Medication management by a licensed professional Nurse. One of the major complications of managing senior healthcare is medication errors. Our Med Pro program removes that worry for clients and their families.
The problem
Why medication errors happen
Forgetting to take medication can lead to health complications and increased hospitalizations. Serious complications can occur if medication is not dispensed correctly and monitored. Errors can be due to many reasons and circumstances:
- Decreased vision
- Frequent medication changes and conflicts causing confusion
- Lack of coordination between medical providers
- Using multiple pharmacies
- A change in cognitive status and confusion
- Forgetfulness
- Depression
- Physical issues such as arthritis that make containers hard to open
Who usually fills a medication dispenser?
By law, Home Health Aides (HHAs) and Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are not permitted to dispense or administer medications. They are not trained to do this or any other skilled or invasive task.
Sometimes a relative or friend offers to fill the trays, but many families prefer the guidance and supervision of a professional Nurse to manage medications. Our Med Pro Medication Tray Fill Program addresses this need.
How it works
What a Med Pro visit includes
Communication with the prescribing MD or healthcare provider to ensure every prescription is up to date and correct.
Coordination with the pharmacy so refills are sent in a timely manner.
The Nurse verifies all prescriptions, replaces old or expired medications and updates any changed dosages.
If there are discrepancies, the Nurse contacts the prescribing provider to clarify in writing.
Every medication dispensed into the trays is documented, signed by the Nurse and patient or representative, and faxed to the primary care provider for review.
At each visit the Nurse also checks vital signs such as blood pressure and pulse, and blood sugar if needed, and reviews the medication administration sheet.
Results
A remarkable improvement when clients stay on track
We improve medication compliance by choosing the best dispenser for the client's regimen, from a simple pillbox to several sequential ones. If anything changes, the Nurse is notified and a Med Pro visit is scheduled to refill the trays and make the change.
If medications are still left in the tray, the Nurse determines the cause. Clients may forget, or refuse because they feel the medication is causing issues, which it may be. The Nurse can notify the family, conference with the doctor and find an alternative. If the client is forgetting, we can set up reminder calls or a phone alarm.
Clients tell us this service has allowed them to stay safe for years longer in their own homes, where they want to be, and has saved thousands of dollars compared to the cost of moving to an assisted living facility. Families also have one less issue to worry about.
Scheduling and cost
Med Pro visits can be arranged weekly, bi-weekly or monthly and are customized to the client's medication regimen. Patient and caregiver counseling, training and orientation is done by our Nurse, and the family can obtain a current medication list whenever needed.
The Nurse can also periodically review medications with the patient's doctor, confirming necessity and helping avert negative interactions.
Visits are made on an as-needed basis at reasonable rates per visit, depending on the number and schedule of medications, the cycle of prescription refills and the type of dispenser used.