Identification of Inappropriate Medications In A Medication Therapy Regimen

• US 20080015893A1
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bertram, Carl, Miller, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US11/458,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015893A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

A method of identifying inappropriate medications within a medication therapy regimen detects and removes medications that are known to cause adverse health outcomes in elderly persons having particular medical conditions. Methods of identifying inappropriate medications within a medication therapy regimen and intervention thereof are provided herein. The methods of identifying inappropriate medications within a medication therapy regimen include receiving information on a medication being used by the person, and evaluating the medication information to identify an adverse health outcome for the person if the person'"'"'s age is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method of identifying inappropriate medications for a person comprising:

receiving patient parameter data relating to one or more patient risk factors associated with a person including the person'"'"'s age;

receiving medication data relating to a medication being used by the person;

evaluating the medication data to identify an adverse health outcome for the person if the person'"'"'s age is greater than a predetermined threshold; and

intervening in a medical treatment of the person in response to an identified adverse health outcome based on the medical condition data and the medication data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving inappropriate medications data relating to a predetermined list of medications inappropriate for a person having an age greater than the predetermined threshold and wherein evaluating the medication data to identify an adverse health outcome for the person if the person'"'"'s age is greater than a predetermined threshold comprises evaluating the medication data and the inappropriate medications data to identify an adverse health outcome for the person if the person'"'"'s age is greater than a predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein intervening in a medication treatment of the person comprises intervening in a medication treatment of the person during dispensation of the medication to the person.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein intervening in a medication treatment of the person comprises contacting at least one of the group consisting of:

the person and a medical provider for the person.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein intervening in a medication treatment of the person comprises determining a level of risk to the person'"'"'s health based on the medical condition data and the medication data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving medical condition data relating to a medical condition associated with the person, wherein evaluating the medication data to identify an adverse health outcome for the person if the person'"'"'s age is greater than a predetermined threshold comprises evaluating the medical condition data and the medication data to identify an adverse health outcome for the person if the person'"'"'s age is greater than a predetermined threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the medical condition data relating to a medical condition associated with the person comprises a reduced liver function associated with the person.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the medication data relating to a medication being used by the person comprises medication data relating to one or more of the group consisting of:

chlordiazepoxide, chlorazepate, diazepam, quazepam, halesepam, meprobamate, flurazepam, chlorpropamide, meperdine, propoxyphene, amitryptiline, doxepin, trimpramine and imipramine.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an alternative medication in response to an identified adverse health outcome.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising evaluating the alternative medication to identify an adverse health outcome for the person.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an additional medication in response to an identified adverse health outcome.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising discontinuing a medication being used by the person in response to an identified adverse health outcome

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting a user to intervene in a medical treatment of the person in response to an identified adverse health outcome.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user with the results of the evaluation.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user with a rationale for intervening in a medical treatment of the person in response to an identified adverse health outcome.

16. A method of identifying an inappropriate medication in a medication therapy regimen for an elderly person comprising:

identifying an elderly person having a medical condition;

analyzing a first medication therapy regimen associated with the identified elderly person, the first medication therapy regimen comprising a medication being used by the identified elderly person;

comparing the medication being used by the identified elderly person with a predetermined list of medications;

developing a second medication therapy regimen associated with the identified elderly person if the predetermined list of medications comprises the medication being used by the identified elderly person; and

executing the second medication therapy regimen for the identified elderly person.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

contacting a medical provider for the elderly person if the predetermined list of medications comprises the medication being used by the identified elderly person;

receiving instructions from the medical provider regarding the medication; and

wherein developing and executing the second medication therapy regimen are based on the instructions.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein developing a second medication therapy regimen comprises determining a level of risk to the person'"'"'s health based on the second medication therapy regimen.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein developing a second medication therapy regimen comprises determining an alternative medication to replace the medication of the first medication therapy regimen.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein developing a second medication therapy regimen comprises discontinuing the medication of the first medication therapy regimen.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein developing a second medication therapy regimen comprises developing a second medication therapy regimen having a reduced risk to the identified elderly person as compared to the first medication therapy regimen.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein executing the second medication therapy regimen comprising contacting the identified elderly person regarding the second medication therapy regimen.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein contacting the identified elderly person comprises contacting the identified elderly person during dispensation of the medication of the first medication therapy regimen.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving post-execution data for the identified elderly person regarding the second medication therapy regimen.

25. A method of conducting a business relating to identifying inappropriate medications within a medication therapy regimen, the method comprising:

receiving a request to subscribe to a medication therapy management service;

providing a medication therapy management service relating to identifying inappropriate medications within a medication therapy regimen, wherein the medication therapy management service includes intervening in the medication therapy regimen if the medication therapy management service identifies an inappropriate medication within the medication therapy regimen;

submitting a reimbursement code in response to the intervention; and

receiving reimbursement for the service in response to the reimbursement code.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the intervention in the medication therapy regimen comprises creating a new medication therapy regimen for a person and providing the person with the new medication therapy regimen.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein creating a new medication therapy regimen for the person comprises consulting with a medical provider associated with the person to determine the new medication therapy regimen.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein providing a medication therapy management service relating to identifying inappropriate medications within a medication therapy regimen comprises:

receiving medical condition data relating to a medical condition associated with a person;

receiving medication data relating to a medication being used by the person; and

evaluating the medical condition data and the medication data to identify an adverse health outcome for the person if the person'"'"'s age is greater than a predetermined threshold.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein providing a medication therapy management service relating to identifying inappropriate medications within a medication therapy regimen comprises:

analyzing the medication therapy regimen associated with a person, the medication therapy regimen comprising a medication being used by the person; and

comparing the medication being used by the person with a predetermined list of inappropriate medications.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the reimbursement code comprises a National Council for Prescription Drug Programs Professional Pharmacy Services code.