A Home Medicines Review (HMR) is a clinical process that considers your medicines and health, to improve the quality use of medicines and reduce the number of adverse medicines events.
HMR referrals can be generated by General Practitioners (GP), Specialist in Pain Medicine, Specialist Physician, Specialist Psychiatrist or Specialist in Palliative Medicine.
The patient has a choice of whether this referral is provided to their usual Community Pharmacy (or to another Service Provider, including a sole trader Accredited Pharmacist).
An HMR is a collaborative process between the referring Medical Practitioner, the GP (if this is not the referrer), other members of the Patient’s healthcare team (including the patient’s usual Community Pharmacy if they have one), Accredited Pharmacist, patient, and where appropriate, a carer.
The HMR interview takes place in the patient’s home, where possible, to ensure the effectiveness of the service. If entering the Patient’s home is not possible due to either cultural or safety concerns, then a variation can be requested to complete the Interview outside the home.
During the HMR Interview process, the accredited pharmacist will aim to improve the patient’s understanding of their medicines.
After the initial Interview, the accredited pharmacist will produce a HMR Report that outlines their findings.
The HMR Report aims to improve the referrer’s understanding of how the patient is using their medicines and provide recommendations that will assist the referrer and patient in developing a medication management plan. The Report will be provided to the referrer.
If needed, up to two follow-up service(s) can be conducted, with a focus on the resolution of medication-related problems identified at the initial Interview.
Patients are eligible to participate in a HMR if they meet the following eligibility criteria:
- A current Medicare card or DVA card
- They live in a community setting
- They are at risk of, or experiencing, medication misadventure
The Referring Medical Practitioner confirms that there is an identifiable clinical need for a HMR Service.
A patient is not eligible for an HMR Service if they are currently an in-patient at a public hospital, private hospital, day hospital facility, transition care facility or if they are a resident of an Aged Care Facility.
HMR Services are provided at no charge to the patient.