Medication management interventions in patients enrolled in GRACE Team Care

Abstract

GRACE targets home-based, geriatrics team management, primary care collaboration, and protocols for common conditions. GRACE can improve outcomes and reduce acute-care utilization. We aimed to characterize medication-related GRACE recommendations. Medical record review of Indiana University Health Physicians GRACE patients (June 2012 to September 2013), with six months' follow-up was conducted. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and recommendations were summarized. Mean age (N = 156) was 82 years; 71% were women, 24% black, and 34% living alone, with a mean of 12 medications. Medication management was activated in 99%. Implementation occurred in 96% of 924 recommendations, including reviewing medication lists (N = 153) and purposes (N = 109) with patients, and providing medication lists to providers (N = 119). GRACE recommended and implemented medication-related interventions, facilitating medication reconciliation, education, communication, and coordination of care. Medication management, a key GRACE component, may contribute to reducing hospitalization rates.

Keywords: Care management; Geriatric assessment; House calls; Interdisciplinary team; Medication reconciliation.