Visiting Nurses Launch Pharmacy Program

The Visiting Nurse Assn. of Los Angeles will launch a Pharmacology Assistance Program for its aging home health patients with a $25,000 grant from the Weingart Foundation of Los Angeles.

A full-time pharmacist will consult on individual cases and instruct the association’s 620 staff members about medications. The program is a first for a home health agency in the area, according to Sharon Grigsby, Visiting Nurse Assn. president.

Most patients served by the association are over 65, often with both acute and chronic illnesses. The new program is designed to prevent adverse side effects from the interaction of medications and problems rising from forgetting to take medications.

Last year Visiting Nurse of Los Angeles teams paid 200,000 nursing visits for more than 13,500 patients, 60% of whom are over 65 and 40% over 75.