Organ transplant patients are at increased risk for medication errors given their complex medication regiments. Previous studies have explored interventions, such as barcode-assisted medication administration, to reduce medication errors in this population. This study assessed the impact of a mobile health-based, pharmacist-led telehealth intervention (TRANSAFE Rx) on medication errors among kidney transplant recipients.

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina randomized 136 transplant recipients to usual care or the TRANSAFE Rx intervention. Patients randomized to usual care were seen by pharmacists while in the hospital and during routine clinic follow-up for 6-months post-transplant. In addition to usual care, patients randomized to the TRANSAFE Rx intervention received pharmacist-led supplemental medication therapy monitoring and management via a smartphone-based mobile health app via integrated televisits (e.g., confirming medication accuracy during transitions of care, screening for drug interactions, providing recommendations) and home-based blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring.

During the 12-month study period, findings show that the TRANSAFE Rx intervention significantly reduced medication errors, drug-related adverse events, and hospitalization rates. Despite its narrow clinical focus on transplant patients, this innovative telehealth approach may be generalizable to other patients with complex medication regimens.