Medicine communication from hospital to residential aged care facilities: a cross-sectional survey of aged care facility staff

Abstract

Background: Continuity of medicines management can be compromised when older people are transferred between hospital and residential aged care facilities. Aim: This study explored medicine management practices at facilities during patients’ transfer of care from hospital, and staff experiences with medicines information handover from hospitals. Method: An electronic cross-sectional questionnaire sent to all residential aged care facilities within a metropolitan region, February to April 2022. The survey comprised 23 questions covering facilities’ profiles, medicines management practices, and medicine management at transfer of care from hospital. Results: Of 53 listed facilities, thirty-one (58.5%) responded representing > 80% banner organisations. Facilities varied in size ranging between < 50 and 200 beds. A variety of services were provided with 87.1% offering more than one level of care. Responses indicated differences in medicines management processes with 19.4% solely using hardcopy medication charts. Handover from hospitals to manage patients’ medicines at transfer was inconsistent with only 48.4% reporting consistently receiving appropriate documentation. Conclusion: Diverse processes and practices exist for medicines management in residential aged care facilities for routine activities and when residents transfer from hospital to facilities. Medicine communication received from hospital during discharge to a facility varies considerably, potentially compromising patient safety and care.