Implementation of patient prioritisation tools: impact on integrated pharmaceutical care provision

Introduction: The Scottish Government’s ambition aims for people to live as long as possible at home or in a homely setting. The projected population increase aged 70+ is 55% by 2035 in [removed] Scottish region. Currently, there is limited resource to provide pharmaceutical care to this complex patient group often with multiple co-morbidities and low health literacy. Special difficulty is experienced when patients transition between care sectors. Description of practice change implemented: The development, implementation and evaluation of patient prioritisation tools (LACE, Ayrshire Polypharmacy Attendance and Cognition Evaluation (APACE) and Enhanced Medication Summary (EMS)) to target patient identification for pharmaceutical care which consisted of structured polypharmacy reviews and enhanced discharge planning with links to follow up community pharmaceutical care (intermediate care, general practice based, community pharmacy or care at home). Aim and theory of change: The aim is to identify elderly patients with greatest pharmaceutical care needs: patients with high risk medicine combinations, not coping with home medicines management due to cognitive impairment, or requiring support at transitions of care. The long term goal is to maintain patient and carer independence with medicines management, prevent potential/actual adverse drug events and prevent hospital admissions/readmissions. Adopting prioritisation tools to optimise limited pharmaceutical staff resource can target patients for comprehensive pharmaceutical care provision. Targeted population and stakeholders: Patients aged 65 and over in a community or hospital care of the elderly setting in one Scottish health board area. Key stakeholders include hospital and community medical, pharmacy, nursing, and social care staff. Timeline: Tool development started August 2017 with initial evaluation conducted after three months, thereafter implementation with ongoing assessment. Highlights (innovation, impact and outcomes): EMS polypharmacy reviews (n=286) resulted in a total of 707 interventions (mean 2.5 per patient): with rating of 12% patients (n=35) likely hospital/care home admission prevention. Additionally 69% patients (n=197) with pharmaceutical care interventions which potentially prevented adverse effects. APACE reviews (n=20) resulted in 47 interventions. LACE tool identified 72% patients (n=62) for enhanced discharge care. Interim results (n=7) indicate patient and carer rated pharmaceu