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A medication management program developed by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs has been recognised in the 2008 National Quality Use of Medicines Awards 2008.
The annual awards are an initiative of the National Prescribing Service (NPS) and the Pharmaceutical Health and Rational use of Medicines (PHARM) Committee to draw attention to activities that promote the proper use of medications.
Veterans’ MATES is a prescriber feedback system that uses the DVA’s administrative health database to identify veterans who may be at risk of medication misadventure.
The database contains records on the pharmaceutical, medical, hospital and allied health services used by 310,000 veterans and war widows or widowers.
The MATES program uses an evidence-based, collaborative approach to identify and respond to the medication needs of veterans, health professionals, carers and policy makers.
The NPS said the program had led to an increase in the use of medication-related services delivered by medical practitioners.
It has also encouraged more interaction between general practitioners and their veteran patients.
So far, the MATES program has been adopted by 20,400 GPs, 171,400 veterans and more than 8,500 pharmacists.
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