Role of Community Pharmacists in Home Healthcare

Community pharmacists are often not included in home healthcare teams; their absence from such teams places patients undergoing transitions at risk for potential medication-related errors. However, community pharmacists can improve medication adherence and decrease heart failure (HF)-related hospital readmission rates. The expansion of home medication teaching services for patients by community pharmacists to reach as many patients as possible could only augment those benefits. Community pharmacists provide home health services including medication reconciliation and teaching. In the near future, all HF patients should be allowed to receive one in-home visit by a community pharmacist so that they can improve their lifestyles and enhance their medical treatment. Home visits and home healthcare by community pharmacists can reduce avoidable hospital readmissions of patients with HF.