United HomeCare Services will be the first of four national demonstration sites selected by California-based Partners in Care Foundation to replicate its evidence-based Medication Management Improvement System (MMIS) thanks to a grant from the Health Foundation of South Florida. Initially piloted by Partners in Care Foundation in California, MMIS has proven effective in reducing medication errors that jeopardize the health of frail community-dwelling elders by capturing four of the most common medication errors:

• unnecessary therapeutic duplication
• use of medications that increase risk of uncharacteristic confusion
• use of medications that increase dizziness and risk of falls
• inappropriate use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Adverse drug reactions are the fourth leading cause of death among the elderly and at least 25% of all adverse drug events caused by medications are preventable. José R. Fox, President & CEO of United HomeCare Services stated, "Studies show that MMIS has proven to decrease confusion, dizziness and risks of falls for the elderly population. MMIS will enable our case managers to utilize special medication risk screening software, and in consultation with a pharmacist, to screen medications for potentially harmful problems." Further refining MMIS based on Miami-Dade’s findings will foster Partners in Care Foundation’s long term goal of expanding the model through Medicaid Waiver programs nationwide.

Partners in Care Foundation research shows that "extremely frail elders who are kept at home through Medicaid waiver nursing home diversion services are twice as likely to experience a potential medication problem." MMIS moves home health agencies toward having a coordinated system for reviewing client drug regimens. United HomeCare Services can expect to identify Medicaid Waiver clients at highest risk for medication errors based on California’s experience with MMIS, says Sandy Atkins, Associate Director for Partners in Care Foundation. Forty-nine percent of Medicaid Waiver clients screened in the West Coast had at least one potential medication-related problem and 29% required a medication change and reevaluation by their physician.

According to The John E. Hartford Foundation, "homecare is the setting where a systematic medication review can often be made most efficiently." The Hartford Foundation and the National Institutes of Health are providing financial support for the four-year, multi-phase roll-out led by Partners in Care Foundation to apply MMIS to Medicaid Waiver care management programs nationwide. According to Health Foundation of South Florida President & CEO Steven E. Marcus, "we are excited to bring MMIS to South Florida to help improve the safety and quality of life for older adults. MMIS will provide home health agencies with a more coordinated system for reviewing client drug regimens to help alleviate medication errors."

The Health Foundation of South Florida, a not-for-profit grantmaking foundation, is dedicated to expanding access to affordable, quality health care and providing funding that directly benefits the health and well-being of underserved individuals in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $72 million in grants and direct program support.

Partners in Care Foundation is a San Fernando, California-based non-profit healthcare and social services organization dedicated to changing the shape of healthcare. In collaboration with its extensive network of community-based and healthcare organizations, funders, and supporters, Partners in Care initiates, develops, and tests innovative new care models among diverse communities and populations in the areas of aging well, access to care, end-of-life care and health promotion and disease interventions. Founded in 1974, United HomeCare Services is the oldest not-for-profit homecare agency serving Miami-Dade’s elderly and disabled adults. The Agency provides a broad spectrum of services including geriatric care management, home health aides, skilled nursing, personal care, telehealth monitoring and home delivered meals to empower elderly and disabled adults to live independently at home.