Pharmacists are being embedded in residential aged care homes to enhance medication safety and streamline treatment plans, thanks to a newly funded initiative aimed at improving resident health outcomes.
A recent study of NSW residential aged care homes (RACHs) found that medication incidents affect more than one-third of older adults in RACH settings [1]. These errors and adverse drug events are a leading cause of hospital admissions, with approximately 250,000 medication-related hospitalisations occurring annually across Australia – accounting for an estimated 2 – 3% of all hospital admissions [1].
The Aged Care Onsite Pharmacist (ACOP) initiative introduces a permanent, weekly pharmacist presence in RACH homes to improve continuity of care. This person-centred model fosters collaboration between pharmacists, aged care staff, visiting general practitioners and other health professionals to enhance the quality and safety of medication management.
WentWest is actively connecting local credentialled pharmacists with residential aged care homes to support the rollout of ACOP, with several facilities expressing strong interest and exploring participation in the transition to this new model of care.
Uniting Aged Care is leading the way, with 12 Uniting NSW – ACT homes active with ACOP or in progress, with around 1,000 residents benefiting from this initiative. Most recently in our region, Uniting Mullauna Blacktown has partnered with service provider Choice Aged Care to deliver the initiative, supported by funding from the Department of Health, Aging and Disability.
Watch our video below to see how the ACOP initiative is making a difference at Uniting Mullauna Blacktown.
Gary Kassab, Healthy Aging Manager at WentWest, encourages RACHs and pharmacists to take full advantage of the available government funding:
“My team is ready to support and guide providers in adopting this initiative. We’ve already seen the positive impact it can have – especially for residents.”
The ACOP initiative was introduced in response to Recommendation 38 from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which identified medication management and safety in RACHs as an essential area for improvement. It also supports compliance with the new Aged Care Act, effective from 1 November.
To find out more about this initiative, visit our webpage: Aged Care On-Site Pharmacist (ACOP) – WentWest
To enquire with our team, please email us: racfsupport@wentwest.com.au
Reference
(1) Report: Characteristics and Risk Factors of Medication Incidents Across Stages of Medication Management in Residential Aged Care: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of 5700 Reported Incidents