Are you a pharmacist? Do you think that MedActionPlan™ (MAP) makes a positive difference in the transition to home? Does MAP improve patient outcomes and help to reduce readmissions? If so—fill out this 20 minute questionnaire. Must complete by January 18, 2012.

ASHP and APhA launched a new initiative to improve transitions in care from acute care to home settings. The groups are seeking examples of innovative care models that improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital readmissions by involving pharmacists in medication-related transitions of care. The deadline to submit a model for consideration is January 18, 2012.

Donna Brooten joined Stephen Furst and Lori Hartwell on the Kidney Talk podcast produced by the Renal Support Network:

Remembering what meds to take, at the right time, and making sure you have adequate supply can sometimes be daunting. Donna G. Brooten describes an online medicine management system, MyMedSchedule.com, that will help you stay on track and provides personalized print outs (you can receive text messages too) of your medication regimen. Be on top of your medicine management and dazzle the docs.

Listen to the interview here.

A study by the University of California at San Diego Center for Transplantation examined the benefits of adding a pharmacist to their transplant programs, and the process of medication reconciliation. Several initiatives, including the use of MedActionPlan, were found to improve the safety and quality of care for patients. In addition, implementing MedActionPlan helps facilities meet the Medication Reconciliation requirement of the National Patient Safety Goals.

Read more about this study. 

MedActionPlan users who print the Weekly Checklist or Health Record for their patients will find a useful new feature available: you can now select which day the week starts with. Why would you want to do that? It could make it easier for the patient to use the tool, and save you a sheet of paper in the process.

For example, perhaps you have a patient being discharged on a Wednesday, with a follow-up appointment in one week. With the old version of the Checklist and Health Record, you would need to print two sheets for each: one for the remaining days in the first week, and another for the first few days of the next week. And each page would have several columns left unused, which could be confusing for some patients. With the new feature, you can print a single page beginning on the day of discharge. 

Selecting the first day of the week is a simple one-step process: simply click on the day along the top of the Checklist or Health Record. Your selection on one page will be applied to all the pages. Just click on SUN (Sunday) to go back to the default.

Many thanks to the American Transplant Foundation for recommending MyMedSchedule via Twitter!

AmerTransplant Good for transplant recipients! RT @TransplantExp Stay on track with text message or email medication reminders. www.MyMedSchedule.com

Donna Brooten of MedActionPlan.com and MyMedSchedule.com joined the Donate Life groups from around the country for the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on New Year's Day. The float, New Life Rises, honors the new life that emerges when donors make the gift of life possible through organ, eye and tissue donations. Twenty-four riders are on the float representing transplant recipients and deceased donor families. Floragraphs, made of herbs, spices, and floral materials illustrate the loved ones who gave life to those in need. Donna says, "It was an inspiring event, very humbling and hopefully this float, seen on the parade route and on national television, made more people aware of how critical the need is for organ, tissue and eye donations."

To see KTLA’s Rose Parade broadcast featuring the Donate Life float, go to this page and click on Part 1, where Donate Life appears at the 13:15 mark. 

View photos of the float and parade on MyMedSchedule's Facebook page.