Leah B Herity1,2,3, Gina Upchurch1,2,4,5, Anna P Schenck1. 1. Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 2. Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 3. Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, Virginia. 4. Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. 5. Senior PharmAssist, Durham, North Carolina.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes in acute health services use of Senior PharmAssist participants. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Community-based, nonprofit program in Durham County, North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 60 and older with income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less who enrolled in the Senior PharmAssist program (N = 191) between August 1, 2011, and March 15, 2017. INTERVENTION: Medication therapy management (MTM), customized community referrals, Medicare insurance counseling, and medication copayment assistance provided by Senior PharmAssist. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcomes were self-reported emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions in the previous year, assessed at baseline and every 6 months for up to 2 years. RESULTS: Mean number of ED visits declined over time (0.83 visits per year at baseline to 0.53 visits per year at 24 months, P = .002), as did the percentage of participants reporting an ED visit in the past year (49% at baseline to 31% at 24 months, P = .003). Mean hospital admissions also decreased (0.56 admissions per year at baseline to 0.4 admissions per year at 24 months, P = .02). There was no significant change in percentage of participants reporting a hospital admission in the past year (33% at baseline to 25% at 24 months, P = .23). CONCLUSION: Older adults who enrolled in a community-based program that helps them manage medications, connect with community resources, and overcome barriers to medication access experienced reductions in acute health services use. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2394-2400, 2018.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes in acute health services use of Senior PharmAssist participants. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Community-based, nonprofit program in Durham County, North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 60 and older with income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less who enrolled in the Senior PharmAssist program (N = 191) between August 1, 2011, and March 15, 2017. INTERVENTION: Medication therapy management (MTM), customized community referrals, Medicare insurance counseling, and medication copayment assistance provided by Senior PharmAssist. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcomes were self-reported emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions in the previous year, assessed at baseline and every 6 months for up to 2 years. RESULTS: Mean number of ED visits declined over time (0.83 visits per year at baseline to 0.53 visits per year at 24 months, P = .002), as did the percentage of participants reporting an ED visit in the past year (49% at baseline to 31% at 24 months, P = .003). Mean hospital admissions also decreased (0.56 admissions per year at baseline to 0.4 admissions per year at 24 months, P = .02). There was no significant change in percentage of participants reporting a hospital admission in the past year (33% at baseline to 25% at 24 months, P = .23). CONCLUSION: Older adults who enrolled in a community-based program that helps them manage medications, connect with community resources, and overcome barriers to medication access experienced reductions in acute health services use. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2394-2400, 2018.