Community Services

Managing medications whether your own or someone within your care can be daunting and at times confusing. Breakthroughs in medicine have allowed us to treat more aliments and diseases than ever before and it is not uncommon for individuals to be on multiple medicines.

The Australian Federal Government has identified that individuals on multiple medicines at home need education and support in managing their medication regimes. The Home Medicine Review (HMR) Program involves an accredited pharmacist meeting with a patient in their own home to assess their medication regime. The objective of a HMR is to ensure safe, effective and appropriate use of medicines.

A referral from your General Practitioner (GP) is required to undertake an HMR. Once a review is conducted the accredited pharmacist then prepares a written report for the GP.

A Home Medicine Review (HMR) provides an opportunity for you and / or your carer to sit down and discuss your medication regime with a qualified accredited pharmacist within your own home. During the visit the pharmacist is able to discuss with you, your medication regime and provide education about your medicines including;

• Indications for treatment.
• Adverse effects.
• Generic medicines.
• Storage advice.
• The use of over the counter medicines and or complimentary medicines.
• Helpful hints to improve medication regime compliance.

Are you eligible for a Home Medicine Review?

Your General Practitioner (GP) is able to assess whether you are eligible for a Home Medicine Review (HMR). Some examples for eligibility include:

• Taking more than five regular medicines.
• 12 doses of medicine per day or being treated for three medical conditions.
• Discharged from hospital in last four weeks.
• Significant changes to your medication regimen in past 3 months.
• Taking a medicine with narrow therapeutic index or requiring therapeutic drug monitoring.
• Symptoms suggestive of adverse drug reaction.
• Sub-therapeutic response to treatment.
• Suspected non-compliance/problems managing medication-related therapeutic devices.
• Risk due to language/literacy difficulties dexterity problems.
• Impaired sight or cognitive difficulties.
• Increasing frailty.