Hospice & Palliative Care
Hospice and palliative care require responsiveness, compassion, and around-the-clock access to medications.
of clients screened in a hospice setting are at risk of a medication mishap — which is why every admission and every medication change gets a pharmacist's review.
We provide hospice and palliative care programs with timely medication delivery, symptom-management support, and a consultant pharmacist available 24/7.
Our pharmacists are thoroughly familiar with symptom management and the regulatory requirements around controlled substances, and review all client medications at admission and periodically throughout care.
Our team understands the urgency and sensitivity of this work and responds accordingly.
What we offer
How we support hospice & palliative care programs
Direct resident care
- Resident symptom assessment and drug therapy management, including comorbid conditions
- Review and recommendations on managing ineffective, futile, and nonessential medications
- Pharmacotherapy reviews with residents, caregivers, and families to reset therapeutic goals
- Participation in hospice and palliative care planning meetings, resident care rounds, and consultations
- Concise, comprehensive, and timely responses to requests for drug information
- Alternative routes of medication administration when traditional routes are not feasible
Medication order review & reconciliation
- Preparation and dispensing of medications for symptom management following existing standards of practice
- Securing access for drugs used in a client's regimen, including facilitation of REMS programs
- Drug shortage management, including client-focused and supply decisions
- Medication adherence strategies
- Opioid equianalgesic conversions
- Clinical medication regimen reviews to identify and resolve medication-related problems
Medication policy, safety & administration
- Pharmacy & Therapeutics committee implementation and participation
- Medication formulary and therapeutic substitution policy development and oversight
- Medication-use policies, procedures, and evidence-based algorithms
- Continuous quality-improvement reviews of medication-use compliance
- Medication administration management, including pumps, dosage forms, and stock medication
- Safe and legal disposal of medications
Palliative care support
Our inpatient and outpatient palliative care pharmacists are involved in symptom management strategies, timely medication administration, monitoring and reporting adverse drug reactions, education for clients and families, and monitoring for drug–drug and drug–disease interactions.
Ready to partner with Community Care RX?
Tell us about your site and residents. We will design a personalized pharmacy program and ensure a seamless transition of care.