Health Care Professionals
MedsCheck
MedsCheck Program Standardization and System Requirements
Mandatory Requirements are effective January 1, 2012 unless otherwise noted.
As the Ontario Government moves forward with expanding professional pharmacy services, advice given to the ministry from the Ontario Pharmacy Council and pharmacy associations suggested introducing standardized formatting to the current MedsCheck program (MedsCheck Annual and MedsCheck Follow-up) to ensure all pharmacists are consistent in the medication management information provided to patients and shared with other health care professionals.
A number of recommendations were identified as enhancements to the current MedsCheck program including the future development of a standardized form. Until such time as the ministry and the Ontario Pharmacists' Association finalize standardized forms, the following policy and system requirements need to be established.
Summary information about the MedsCheck Annual and MedsCheck Follow-up:
- The MedsCheck program is an appointment based medication review service separate from dispensing-related services, which takes place in a community pharmacy.
- MedsCheck is a voluntary service that requires a patient's consent for the pharmacist to provide the consultation. If the patient is not able to attend a pharmacy, a designated caregiver may attend provided the appropriate consent is on file with the pharmacy.
- Patients must be taking a minimum of 3 prescription medications, living in Ontario and hold a valid Ontario Health Card.
- The MedsCheck in-person discussion between the pharmacist and the patient is on average 20-30 minutes. A sufficient level of patient privacy and safety must be established by the pharmacist.
- The consultation results in a medication review list of a patient's prescriptions, over the counter drug use and herbal and natural health products on the date of the appointment.
- Pharmacists should list medications in order of the last date dispensed with the newest medication listed first.
- Drug related problems identified at the time of the MedsCheck appointment must be followed up by the pharmacist as per the Pharmaceutical Opinion Program.
- At the end of the consultation, both the pharmacist and the patient (or designated care-giver) sign and date the MedsCheck medication review list demonstrating a commitment to the MedsCheck process by both parties.
- The patient leaves the pharmacy / appointment with a signed and dated copy of the MedsCheck medication review. If there are drug related problems still to be resolved; the signed and dated MedsCheck review list is provided upon completion.
- The MedsCheck represents the best possible medication review history based on the accuracy and completeness at the time of the appointment. Patients are encouraged to carry their MedsCheck review with them when visiting their physician, other health care providers or if they go to the hospital.
- It is recommended that the MedsCheck review be shared with the patient's primary care physician and / or that the patient is aware that the pharmacist has informed the physician that the patient has had a MedsCheck on a specific date.
- When sharing a MedsCheck with the patient's primary care physician, pharmacists should indicate whether a MedsCheck is for information only or whether there is a need for action based on a potential drug related issue.
- The pharmacist bills for the service via the Ontario Drug Benefit Health Network System (HNS) with payment to the community pharmacy upon completion of the MedsCheck review including any MedsCheck drug related problems.
- A copy of what was provided to the patient is maintained in the pharmacy for a period of time as per legislation.
MedsCheck Annual + MedsCheck Follow-up medication review
Standardization and System Requirements
Mandatory Requirements are effective January 1, 2012 unless otherwise noted.
| MedsCheck Report Format | Requirement1 |
|---|---|
| Report Heading: "MedsCheck" brand must be added to the medication review list on all pages at the top of the page as prominent |
Mandatory |
| MedsCheck medication review list; if more than one page, all pages must be numbered as "page X of Y" | Mandatory |
| Respective headings including "MedsCheck" must appear on all pages; headings may also include the pharmacy information | Mandatory |
Disclaimer information:
MedsCheck is a voluntary program sponsored by the Ontario government. The accuracy of the information in this document depends on the accuracy and completeness of the information provided by the patient at the time the MedsCheck was prepared. The signed and dated MedsCheck demonstrates that both parties have an understanding of the MedsCheck program and the process; the completed MedsCheck may be shared with other health care professionals within the circle of care. |
Mandatory |
| Pharmacy Information | Requirement |
| Pharmacy Name | Mandatory |
| Pharmacy Logo | Optional |
| Pharmacy address | Mandatory |
| If different from the pharmacy address, the name and address location of the MedsCheck appointment must be noted on the MedsCheck medication review list. | Mandatory |
| Pharmacy telephone number | Mandatory |
| Pharmacist's name (who conducted the service) | Mandatory |
| Pharmacist's signature (who conducted the service) | Mandatory |
| Date prepared | Mandatory |
| Patient Information | Requirement |
| Patients first and last name | Mandatory |
| Patient's health card number | Optional |
| Patient's gender (male / female) | Mandatory |
| Patient's date of birth | Mandatory |
| Patient's phone number | Recommended |
| Known allergies and intolerances | Mandatory |
| Does the patient smoke – current user; former user | Recommended |
| Physician Information (primary prescriber) | Requirement |
| Physician name | Mandatory |
| Physician telephone number | Recommended |
| Physician Registration number | Recommended |
| MedsCheck medication review list | Requirement |
| Generic name (Brand name / manufacturer) of prescription and non-prescription medication at the time of the appointment | Mandatory |
| Natural health products; herbal products and others at the time of the appointment | Mandatory |
| One product is indicated per row | Mandatory |
| Strength including concentration; dosage form | Mandatory |
| Quantity | Mandatory |
| Date dispensed | Mandatory |
| How medication is prescribed (directions) | Mandatory |
| How the patient is taking the medication or product (frequency, time of day, with what) | Mandatory |
| Purpose for taking the drug or product (reason for use / indication) | Mandatory |
| Comments and/or special instructions noted by the pharmacist as per discussion with the patient including no action, record discrepancy, medication to continue, if patient was referred to another health care professional, etc | Mandatory |
| Process and Procedures | Requirement |
| The MedsCheck medication review list must be generated at the conclusion of the MedsCheck review session. | Recommended |
| Potential drug related problems identified at the time of a MedsCheck must be followed-up by the pharmacist with a recommendation to the physician regarding the best outcome. Pharmacist to refer to the Pharmaceutical Opinion Program for more information. | Mandatory |
| The final MedsCheck medication review list to be shared with the patient's primary physician. | Recommended |
| When MedsCheck is shared with the patient's primary physician, pharmacist indicates "no action" or "action required" | Recommended |
| The pharmacy software should enable pharmacists to devote most of their time to interacting with patients. | Recommended |
| The MedsCheck documents must be stored electronically (or as a hard copy) when completed and be available for retrieval at a later date | Mandatory Effective date May 11, 20122 |
| Retention of MedsCheck documents and associated records pertaining to the patient record must be kept on site in a readily retrievable format at the pharmacy for a minimum period of ten years or as indicated in O. Reg. 58/11 of the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act. | Mandatory |
| MedsCheck documents must not permit alterations or adjustments once they have been stored. If there is a need to update or change a record, a tracking mechanism of the change including the date and who made the change must be used. | Mandatory Effective date May 11, 2012 |
| The MedsCheck data content should be electronically transferable as updated versions when subsequent medication review sessions are held with the same patient in the future. | Mandatory Effective date May 11, 2012 |
1Key to requirement categories:
Mandatory: pharmacists must ensure that this requirement is in place on future MedsCheck medication reviews.
Recommended: requirement is recommended to be present however, not all circumstances warrant the element to be permanent.
Optional: requirement is at the discretion of the pharmacy.
2The effective date of May 11, 2012 for storing electronic or scanned documents relating to a MedsCheck aligns with the record keeping requirement under Ontario Regulation 58/11 to the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act.
For More Information
To learn more about MedsCheck talk to your Pharmacist or contact INFOline 1-866-255-6701 or TTY 1-800-387-5599
