Did you know that a quarter of a million people are admitted to hospital every year due to medication misadventures? And a further 400,000 people visit the emergency department due a to medication related issues?

What's even more important, is that up to 50% of these issues could be avoided.

Hi ,

My name is Debbie and I am a pharmacist who lives in rural North East Victoria. I am a consultant pharmacist which means that I have completed post graduate training to be able to visit people in the comfort of their own homes to provide a Home Medication Review (HMR).

HMRs are a government funded program to support the quality use of medicines - with ZERO out of pocket cost to the consumer. This means that a pharmacist will sit with a person in their home (along with their loved ones or carers beside them) to help them get the best out of their medications. This could be via education, device technique help, avoiding side effects or drug interactions, helping reduce the number of potentially inappropriate medications, and so much more, all while communicating this back to the treating care team, and ensuring the patient and their wishes are at the centre. There is no age limit to being able to access this program, and there is no minimum number of medications required.

However as we know, Australia is an aging population. People are living longer and with more chronic diseases than ever before. A HMR is one tool we can use to help people stay safe in their homes by helping them manage their medications to the best of their ability through a comprehensive medication review.

HOWEVER - there is a big barrier to this program - the majority of consumers don't know the essential HMR program even exists! A referral to a pharmacist is made via their regular General Practitioner in most instances, and there is no advertising.

We want to change this - we want to get the word out there to help inform consumers that this program exists. And they can ask their doctor to help them access it. Patients, carers and health care providers alike highly regard this program but it isn't utilised.

Help us raise funds to be able to provide a consumer targeted campaign to allow people to get the most out of their medications through a Home Medication Review today!

To find out more about the HMR program visit - https://www.ppaonline.com.au/programs/medication-management-programs/home-medicines-review