Comprehensive Medication Management in Coordinated Care Systems

The Issue:
Medications play a critical role in modern health care. After prevention and lifestyle changes, medications are involved in 80% of all treatments and are the most common modality for controlling and/or preventing the progression of chronic disease. Proper use of medications can lead to improved health, enhanced quality of life, and increased productivity. 

For coordinated care efforts to be successful, patients must be informed and actively engaged in decisions concerning medications. As part of the “triple aim” to achieve better health for patients, improve the quality of care, and reduce overall costs, the appropriate use and “coordination” of medications is a critical component of health care delivery system reform. 

Comprehensive medication management (CMM) is the standard of care that ensures each patient’s medications (prescription, nonprescription, alternative, traditional, vitamins, and nutritional supplements) are individually assessed to determine the medication is appropriate, effective for the medical condition, safe given the comorbidities and other medications being taken, and the patient is able and willing to take the medicine as intended.i (See the Comprehensive Medication Management Principles section below for an explanation of the essential elements for successful CMM.)

GSK Position:
Comprehensive medication management (CMM), along with access to the most appropriate and affordable medications, helps optimize clinical and patient goals of therapy in a safe and effective manner, vastly improving clinical outcomes and quality while reducing overall healthcare costs.ii GSK supports the implementation of CMM and believes it should be integrated into new and existing models of coordinated care.

For detailed information including key points, see the document here.