Home Medicines Review

Supporting people to safely manage their medicines

About the Program ( Factsheet)

Adverse drug events account for more than 400,000 GP visits and 140,000 hospital admissions annually (Medication Safety and Quality Council 2002). Up to 69 per cent of these hospitalizations are avoidable. Studies have shown that some patients do not realise the potential importance of disclosing all medication consumption to their General Practitioner, or may choose not to do so.

A thorough review of a patient's entire medication regimen within the home environment lets the pharmacist and the General Practitioner understand all the medication currently or recently taken by the patient. The interview also makes it easier to improve the patient's understanding of their medications, and how they manage them, where this is necessary.