31 Jan Clinical Pharmacist Intervention Can Reduce ED Visits and Hospital Readmissions

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Lene Vestergaard Ravn–Nielsen, MSc(Pharm)
Hospital Pharmacy of Funen
Clinical Pharmacy Department
Odense University Hospital
Odense, Denmark

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Hospital readmissions are common among patients receiving multiple medication, with considerable costs to the patients and society.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings? 

Response: A multifaceted clinical pharmacist intervention can reduce ED visits and hospital readmissions. 

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

 Response: A multifaceted intervention based on medication review, motivational interview post discharge and follow-up for hospitalized patients with polypharmacy can reduce the short- and long-term rates of readmissions. 

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: Future studies might be able to more accurately identify those patients at high risk of drug-related problems, allowing for a more focused intervention. Seeing our results verified in other settings for instance surgical patients would be desirable.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: Hopefully the results can inspire people all over the world.

Disclosures:  Please see the article.

Citations:

 Ravn-Nielsen LV, Duckert M, Lund ML, Henriksen JP, Nielsen ML, Eriksen CS, Buck TC, Pottegård A, Hansen MR, Hallas J. Effect of an In-Hospital Multifaceted Clinical Pharmacist Intervention on the Risk of ReadmissionA Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. Published online January 29, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.8274 

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Last Updated on February 1, 2018 by Marie Benz MD FAAD