Innovating medication reviews through a technology-enabled process

Res Social Adm Pharm. 2022 Apr;18(4):2700-2705. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.07.019. Epub 2021 Jul 24.

Abstract

Medication reviews are effective in improving the quality of medication use among older people. However, they are conducted to various standards resulting in a wide range of outcomes which limit generalisability of findings arising from research studies. There also appear to be funding and time constraints, lack of data storage for quality improvement purposes, and non-standardised reporting of outcomes, especially clinically relevant outcomes. Furthermore, the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has restricted many face-to-face activities, including medication reviews. This article introduces a technology-enabled approach to medication reviews that may overcome some limitations with current medication review processes, and also make it possible to conduct medication reviews during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing an alternate platform. The possible advantages of this technology-enabled approach, legislative considerations and possible implementation in practice are discussed.

Keywords: Computerised decision support system; Innovation; Medication reviews; Technology.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Medication Review
  • Pandemics*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Technology