What is a Home Medicines Review?

Medication-related issues are a common cause of preventable harm in healthcare. Research shows that up to 30% of hospital admissions for people aged 65 and over may be related to their medicines, and approximately half of these could be avoided.

A Home Medicines Review (HMR) is a Medicare-funded service where a qualified pharmacist visits a patient in their home and conducts a comprehensive review of all regular medications including complementary medicines and supplements. The goal is to support safer and more effective use of medicines.

About the Service

Kate Woods is a credentialed pharmacist based in Newcastle, providing HMRs across the Hunter region.

With a decade of experience across hospital, community, and aged care settings, Kate brings sound clinical knowledge and a patient-centred approach to every consultation, and works collaboratively with the patient and their GP.

Each HMR includes:

• An in-home face-to-face consultation typically lasting about 60 minutes
• A review of all prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and supplements
• Identification of any medicine-related concerns
• A written report for the referring GP, including evidence-based recommendations tailored to the individual’s health goals, risk factors and overall clinical picture
• Access to up to two follow-up appointments to monitor progress, address concerns, and adjust care as needed.

Why Are HMRs Valuable?

Medication-related problems are often complex and can occur without apparent symptoms. A HMR helps identify and address issues such as:

• Medicines prescribed without a clear or current indication
• Untreated health conditions
• A drug choice that may not be the most appropriate
• Too little or too much of the correct medicine
• Unnecessary or ineffective therapies
• Possible side effects and adverse reactions
• Drug–drug, drug–disease, or drug–food interactions
• Incorrect timing or administration (e.g. crushing sustained-release tablets)

By identifying these concerns, a HMR supports safer prescribing and improved medicine management, particularly in older adults and those with chronic conditions.

A Collaborative, Evidence-Based Approach

Kate’s approach is holistic, respectful, and individualised. She takes time to understand the person’s concerns, lifestyle, and goals of care.

• Consultations are person-centred
• Reports are succinct and clinically relevant
• Recommendations are grounded in best practice guidelines and evidence-based resources
• Communication with GPs and other health professionals is prioritised to ensure coordinated care

Eligibility & Referrals

To access a HMR, the patient must be:

• Living in the community (not in residential aged care), and
• Referred by a general practitioner (GP) or specialist doctor.

The service is bulk-billed through Medicare and incurs no cost to eligible patients.