Home Medicines Review

A home medicines review (HMR) also known as a domiciliary medication management review (DMMR), is a comprehensive review designed to optimise patient health outcomes through a collaborative approach involving the patient, their GP, a credentialed (accredited) pharmacist and their regular community pharmacy.   

The objectives of an HMR are to ensure the safe, effective, and appropriate use of medicines, prevent medication-related problems, and improve the patient’s quality of life through a coordinated team effort. 

Step 1. Prepare your practice 

• Discuss HMRs at practice meetings. You may like to invite your Brisbane North PHN Quality Improvement Engagement Officer.
• Provide education resources to all staff: HMR fact sheet for GPs 
• Display posters and brochures throughout practice 
• Engage a local credentialed pharmacist

Step 2. Patient demographics- Identify patients who are eligible and would benefit from a home medicine review 

1. Identify patients eligible for an HMR using the Primary Sense High Complexity 4 & 5 report.  
2. Review current process for offering HMRs 
3. Add HMR to care plan and health assessment templates to prompt discussions 
4. Check patient has not had an HMR elsewhere via HPOS or My Health Record

Step 3. Offer HMRs to patient

Opportunistically offer HMR to eligible patients at existing appointment by using the Primary Sense –High Complexity 4&5 report – filter for existing appointments. 

Offer HMR to all eligible patients at Care Plan appointments.  

Use Primary Sense High Complexity report to identify eligible patients and recall for an HMR via SMS, letter or phone and export Primary Sense High Complexity report to excel for filtering.  

Follow HMR fact sheet for GPs to complete HMR process. 

Establish a relationship with a credentialed pharmacist to facilitate improved processes. 

Put a recall in place for another HMR in 12 months. You may like to review the recall process for care planning so that HMR compliments this process. 

Record the progress of HMR on the activity tracking spreadsheet. 

Step 4. Access clinical guidelines and other resources 

Medicines Advice Initiative Australia: addressing the hidden risk of cumulative medicines load to reduce harm

Aspire medication safety trial: investigating whether a new way of arranging a medication review when a person leaves hospital can prevent medication-related harm and the need for them to go back to hospital. 

Video: HMR community service announcement

Brisbane North HealthPathways: medication management review