The Virginia Association for Home Care & Hospice (VAHC) awarded Centra Home Health the Visionary Award for its new Medication Management Program during the VAHC annual conference on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

According to Heather Weeks, director of Centra Home Health, the Visionary Award is presented to a home care or hospice agency that has paved the way for new services, improved care, or the development of products that are changing the industry.

“The Medication Management Program was developed by Centra Home Health to focus primarily on addressing barriers that affect medication compliance for home health patients,” said Weeks.

Weeks says the largest barrier to patient compliance has been the cost of medications. “Collaborating with prescribers, social workers, pharmacists and drug vendors, the medication nurse manager has been able to obtain the best medications for an affordable price specific to the patients’ needs,” she said.

At $400 a month, one inhaler is cost-prohibitive to many patients, but through medication assistance and options in the choice of effective alternative medications, cost containment and compliance can be achieved.

These options sound easy, but the paperwork can be confusing, labor-intensive and time-consuming for the patient, says Weeks. 

“The development of this Medication Management Program has initiated a positive movement towards patients’ ability to comply with their prescribers and to promote better transitions of care between the patient, health facilities, and prescribers,” she explained.

According to Weeks, the Medication Management Program was developed over six months of research, collaboration, and planning.

The Virginia Association for Home Care & Hospice was established in 1983 and represents the interests of the home care industry through advocacy, education, and guidance with a commitment to quality.