A Pharmacist-based Screening Program of Octogenarians Starting New Medications

OBJECTIVES: To measure the impact of clinical pharmacists in primary care practices who closely monitor patients older than 80 years after initiation of new medications. METHODS: The study was an uncontrolled pilot trial performed at a group-model health maintenance organization in the Pacific Northwest between August and December 1999. Forty-eight patients who were older than 80 years and were prescribed at least one new medication in their primary care clinic were called at home 3 to 6 days after starting a new medication and asked questions focusing on compliance and potential adverse drug events. RESULTS: More than 20% of patients (10 of 48) had a clinically important change made as a result of the pharmacist telephone monitoring; 42% of patients (20 of 48) either experienced an undesired medication effect (14 of 48) or an inadequate effect (6 of 48). Pharmacists spent an average 11.3 minutes at an estimated cost of $6.40 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: A simple, inexpensive pharmacist-based program to screen for medication problems after initiation of new medicines may improve the care to a population older than 80 years.