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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #421 |
| Medication Management for Frail Elderly |
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| Requester: |
Jose R. Fox |
Organization: |
United Home Care Service, Inc. |
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| Project Title: |
Medication Management for Frail Elderly |
Date Submitted |
1/16/2004 2:02:50 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Diaz de la Portilla |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| Older adults, especially home health patients, are more vulnerable to medication errors because of the number of medications they take and the biological changes of aging and disease. On average, older Americans take four and a half prescription medications at any one time, plus another two over-the-counter medications. While they constitute about 13% of US population, older adults consume an estimated 34% of all Rx. It is widely recognized that poly-pharmacy is often replete with duplication, contradictions, drug interactions which contribute to adverse drug effects. The availability of Medication Management among frail and economically disadvantaged elders has emerged as a major unmet need. Simply increasing patients' access to medications without also providing adequate education about and monitoring those medications will not improve the health of beneficiaries. Medication-related problems exact a heavy toll on American public health. The problems are widespread, very costly, physically harmful, and often fatal; perhaps worst of all for the most part are preventable. Older adults, especially home-health patients are particularly vulnerable to encountering medication related health problems. Florida has a significantly high, and rapidly increasing, number of elders receiving home care services who could benefit from this program. In addition, medication management would most likely reduce healthcare costs statewide related to adverse reactions to medication.
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| Recipient: |
United Home Care Services, Inc. |
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Contact: |
Jose R. Fox |
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5225 NW 87 Avenue, Suite 400 |
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Contact Phone: |
(305) 716-0765 |
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Miami 33178 |
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Contact email: |
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| Counties: |
Dade |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| The overall purpose of this project is to reduce medication-related illness in elderly patients who receive home health care assistance through the sponsored programs. UHCS will identify barriers to medication compliance and develop appropriate interventions to assist the elderly in complying with their medication regiment. UHCS will combine professional assistance (pharmacies) and technology (medication administration and monitoring devices) and the expertise of home health professionals (aide, nurse, social worker) to develop a medication management intervention model that can be duplicated Statewide. The project will address the need for home delivery of medications, special packaging for seniors, pharmacy contraindications and patterns of non-compliance. |
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| Is this a water project as described in Chapter 2002-291, Laws of Florida? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Among the expected outcomes: improve client health status through appropriate medication, reduce non-compliance medication related hospitalization, lower the aggregate utilization on prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, and to prevent medication related problems. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$135,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$500,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Private |
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Cash Amount |
$ |
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In-kind Amount |
$15,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Yes |
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Amount: |
$135,000 |
To Fund: |
Operations |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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Unknown |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
Unknown |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Several Journals and Publications |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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No |
