CP 4.6: Home Medication Self-Management

Updated: April 2026
Reviewed: 

Purpose

• To determine if the patient and/or caregiver is managing their home medications
• To refer any concerns or questions about the patient's medication self-management to the health care team
  
  

Policy Statements

The Community Paramedic (CP) will respond to a request for CP care and will assess a patient’s ability to self-manage their medications as part of the initial home visit assessment screen, or as specifically requested on the Community Paramedicine Request for Service. 

CPs are not authorized to administer medications to a patient or advise the patient with respect to any changes. It is expected that the CP will document findings and report them to the primary health care provider and collaborate with other health care team members to provide support as appropriate. 

Procedure

1. OBTAIN and REVIEW the patient’s health history, current medication list (if available), and care plan prior to appointment.
2. ASK the patient and/or caregiver questions regarding medication self-management as outlined on the Initial Assessment Screen form.  Use open-ended questions to elicit responses.  Some examples include:
   1. What medications do you take?
   2. How do you take your medications?  Is that different from how you took them before?  How is it different?
   3. What changes has there been to your medications in the last month?
   4. How many times per week do you skip, miss, or forget to take your medications?
   5. Which medications do you take more than 3 times/day?
   6. When was the last time your doctor/NP or pharmacist went over your medications with you?

3. GENERATE a list of medications (name, dosage, frequency) the patient is currently taking and compare to the current medication list provided to detect any discrepancies.  NOTIFY health care provider/team if discrepancies are found. NOTE: Client may report their medications using brand names and medication list provided by HCP may use generic names.

4. ASK the patient and/or caregiver if there are any other medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements they take that might be from another health care provider, or self-prescribed over the counter, and include these on the list as well.
5. ASK patient and/or caregiver to show you their medications and a system they use for organizing them.
6. CONTACT referring health care provider if paramedic or patient and/or caregiver have any concerns.
   
   

Documentation

DOCUMENT on appropriate records:

• Medication self-management section on Community Paramedicine Initial Assessment Screen form.
• Medication list and discrepancies on Progress Notes. 
  

Documentation should include how medications are taken, including whether medications are supplied in original pill bottles, a dosette, or pharmacy‑prepared blister packs. If a dosette is used, document who is responsible for loading it (for example, the patient, a family member, or a caregiver). When blister packs are used, note how often the medication cards are dispensed (e.g. weekly or multiple weeks at a time).  

Any functional concerns related to medication access should also be documented, including issues with hand dexterity, vision, cognition, or other barriers that may affect the patient’s ability to safely manage medications. 

The CP should document when the most recent medication reconciliation was completed by a pharmacist, if known. If this information is not available, consideration should be given to contacting the patient’s community pharmacy to confirm.  

Where there is a significant medication burden or concerns related to polypharmacy, the CP should consider encouraging the patient to book a medication reconciliation with their community pharmacist. 

References

1. Dorman M, et al. Medication Management of the Community-Dwelling Older Adult. In Patient Safety and Quality. An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. 2008.
2. Eagle County Paramedic Services. Community Paramedic Protocols Manual. 2013. [Link]
3. Tri-County Health Care Emergency Medical Services. Community Paramedic Policy & Procedure Manual. 2016. [Link]
4. Vancouver Coastal Health. Vancouver Community AOA Practice Guidelines. Initial Assessment Tool – Guidelines for Use. March