Safer Medicines at Transitions of Care

About the project

The Safer Medicines at Transitions of Care Collaborative aims to reduce 30-day unplanned re-admissions from participating wards/units by improving the management of medicines to empower consumers to safely transition from hospital to home. 

This will be achieved through 4 key improvements:

• Comprehensive medicines reconciliation
• Advancing handover to next care provider
• Risk screening for re-admissions
• Empowering and educating patients and their carers.

Objectives

• Optimise medicines management practices during transitions of care. 
• Reduce unplanned hospital re-admissions.
• Help patients safely transition from hospital to home. 
• Create a safer and more efficient health system for clinicians and consumers.

Background

Transitions of care occur when a person moves from one care provider to another. It is a high-risk period for miscommunication and preventable medicine errors, that can lead to significant harm. Over 50% of medicine errors occur at transitions of care.¹ Patients discharged with incomplete medicines information are 2.3 times more likely to be readmitted.²

How to get involved

For more information on how to participate in future phases of this project, contact QUMimprovement@safercare.vic.gov.au.

Solution design

Using the Model for Improvement, SCV is partnering with health services to test an evidence-based change package of ideas in their local context using a Breakthrough Through Series Collaborative design. 

This design involves 3 action periods where participating health services test changes ideas with support from SCV through learning sessions, 1:1 coaching, virtual workshops and site visits.

Project phases and milestones

Phase 1 – February 2025 to June 2026

• 19 health services participating.

Phase 2 – From July 2026 to June 2027

• Existing health services will continue to test and sustain their gains.
• New health services or teams will be recruited to spread and scale the change ideas. 

Participating services

• Albury Wodonga Health
• Alfred Health
• Alpine Health
• Barwon Health
• Eastern Health
• Echuca Regional Health
• Goulburn Valley Health
• Grampians Health
• Kyabram District Health
• Mildura Base Public Hospital
• NCN Health
• Northern Health
• South West Healthcare Warrnambool
• St John of God Berwick
• Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
• Werribee Mercy Hospital
• West Gippsland Healthcare Group
• Western District Health Service
• Western Health

References

1. Medication reconciliation. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Available from: Medication reconciliation | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

2. Draft Medication Management at Transitions of Care Stewardship Framework. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Available from: Medication Management at Transitions of Care Stewardship Framework (safetyandquality.gov.au)

3. Lim R, Ellett LMK, Semple S, Roughead EE. The Extent of Medication-Related Hospital Admissions in Australia: A Review from 1988 to 2021. Drug Saf. 2022 Mar;45(3):249-257. Available from: The Extent of Medication-Related Hospital Admissions in Australia: A Review from 1988 to 2021 - PubMed (nih.gov)