MedsCheck

The MedsCheck medication review provides an opportunity for pharmacists to meet one-on-one with patients, helping them to identify and resolve common medication-related issues in order to get the most benefit from their medication.

During this review, pharmacists help patients understand drug names, strengths, adverse effects and usage instructions, and ensure that they are taking their medications as their doctor has directed. As part of this service, pharmacists provide patients with an accurate and complete medication list that they may take with them when they visit their physician or go to the hospital..

The initial MedsCheck Annual and Follow-up programs provided service to Ontarians with a valid OHIP card taking three or more chronic prescription medications. As of September 13, 2010, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has expanded the MedsCheck program to include initial and follow-up consultations for people with diabetes, annual in-depth and quarterly medication reviews for long-term care home residents, and at-home reviews of medications for people who have difficulty travelling to a local pharmacy. All MedsCheck services are available at no charge to patients. 

MedsCheck for Diabetes

An annual MedsCheck for Ontarians diagnosed with Type 1 or 2 diabetes taking medication for their conditions (patients are not required to be taking three chronic prescription medications). 

The annual MedsCheck for diabetes may be provided to patients once each calendar year. Patients are also eligible for multiple follow-up MedsCheck consultations throughout the year, for the purpose of patient monitoring, diabetes device training and education.

MedsCheck at Home

Analogous to the MedsCheck Annual, this service is eligible to Ontarians taking a minimum of three prescription medication for a chronic condition and who are unable to attend a community pharmacy. 

MedsCheck Long Term Care (LTC)

Ontario residents of a licensed long-term care (LTC) home are eligible for an annual in-depth interdisciplinary medication review and quarterly medication reviews. The annual in-depth review may replace one quarterly review.  

Both reviews are to be conducted in the LTC home by the pharmacist.  

MedsCheck Follow-up

The additional MedsCheck(s) provided to patients within the one-year timeframe is referred to as the MedsCheck Follow-up. All MedsCheck policies and procedures apply; however, as it is considered a follow-up service, building on the annual MedsCheck and MedsCheck for Diabetes, there are additional criteria.

The MedsCheck Follow-up may be conducted on multiple occasions based on defined criteria for the following situations:

a) A patient is discharged from hospital

b) A pharmacist’s documented decision

c) A physician or registered nurse in the extended class (e.g nurse practitioner) request

d) A planned hospital admission

e) MedsCheck for Diabetes Follow-up

MedsCheck Consult (launch pending)

As a result of conducting the MedsCheck review, many pharmacists identify drug-related problems and medication-related issues that require collaboration with the physician who wrote the original prescription. The MedsCheck Consult program was created to facilitate that collaboration. Whereas the MedsCheck and MedsCheck Follow-up reviews focus on the relationship between the pharmacist and the patient, the MedsCheck Consult is a program designed to bring pharmacists and physicians together, with the ultimate goal of optimizing a patient’s drug therapy.  More details on the launch of this new program will be posted when they are available.

OPA MedsCheck tools for pharmacists
For more detailed information about the MedsCheck tool, click here. (You must be logged in.)

MedsCheck Annual
(last updated January 6, 2012)

• Patient Background form
• Personal Medication Record
• Physician Communication Form
• Additional Comments Form

MedsCheck for Diabetes
(last updated January 6, 2012)

• Patient Workup
• Personal Medication Record
• Physician Communication Form
• Additional Comments Form

MedsCheck Follow-up
(last updated January 6, 2012)

• MedsCheck Follow-up Form
• Personal Medication Record
• Physician Communication Form
• Additional Comments Form

MedsCheck at Home
(last updated January 6, 2012)

• Patient Workup
• Personal Medication Record
• Physician Communication Form
• Additional Comments Form

MedsCheck LTC
(last updated November 24, 2010) 

• Pharmacist Guideline
• LTC Medication Record Form
• Assessment Summary Form
• Physician Communication Form

Additional information, including the MedsCheck Guidebook, descriptions and summaries of each MedsCheck service including general payment rules can be found at:

http://health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/drugs/medscheck/