UC Davis Health celebrates two years of Meds to Beds program

(SACRAMENTO)

For many patients, leaving the hospital used to come with one final hurdle: a trip to the pharmacy.

After being discharged, patients often had to wait in line to pick up medications, navigate insurance issues or learn their prescriptions were more expensive than expected. These challenges could delay treatment and add stress during a time when patients should be focused on recovery.

Two years ago, UC Davis Health launched its Meds to Beds program to remove those barriers by delivering discharge medications directly to patients before they leave the hospital.

Since then, the program has become an integral part of the discharge process. It helps patients start their treatment immediately while supporting a safer transition from hospital to home.

"When we deliver medications directly to patients before they go home, we remove one more barrier to their recovery," said Kevin Lau, manager of retail pharmacy at UC Davis Health. "It's convenient, but more importantly, it helps ensure patients have the medications they need and understand how to take them. That can lead to better health outcomes, prevent complications, reduce hospital readmissions and, in severe cases, save lives."

How Meds to Beds works

Through the Meds to Beds program, eligible patients are automatically enrolled during their hospital stay. As discharge orders are entered, pharmacy staff work closely with care teams to prepare prescriptions and coordinate bedside delivery before patients leave UC Davis Medical Center.

Pharmacy technician Dmitriy Silyuk speaking with a patient.

The service eliminates the need for patients, caregivers or nurses to walk to the pharmacy after discharge paperwork is completed. Pharmacy staff also help navigate insurance coverage, prior authorizations and financial assistance programs when needed, ensuring patients can promptly access the medications prescribed for their recovery.

"Patient care does not end when someone is discharged," said Cindy Vang, supervisor of the UC Davis Medical Center Discharge Pharmacy team. "We want to make sure patients can continue their care after they leave the hospital, and having medications in hand is a critical part of that."

Improving outcomes beyond convenience

While the program adds convenience to the discharge process, its impact extends far beyond saving patients an extra stop on their way home.

Research has shown that Meds to Beds type of programs can significantly reduce 30-day hospital readmissions. One study of nearly 40,000 hospital discharges found that patients who participated in a Meds to Beds program were approximately 50% less likely to be readmitted within 30 days than those who did not participate.

The program also helps address a common challenge known as primary nonadherence: when patients never fill a prescription after leaving the hospital. By providing medications before discharge, Meds to Beds removes potential barriers such as transportation challenges, insurance complications and out-of-pocket costs. Studies suggest that up to a third of medication-related readmissions are linked to patients not taking prescribed medications as directed.

"Medication adherence is critical for patients with cardiac conditions who are discharged with new prescriptions," said Samer Mishriky, pharmacy supervisor at UC Davis Health. "Barriers such as high costs, insurance challenges and lack of transportation can prevent patients from accessing needed therapies, leading to readmissions, higher healthcare costs and poorer health outcomes."

The discharge pharmacy team works closely with care teams to prepare prescriptions and coordinate bedside delivery before patients leave the hospital.

A collaborative effort across UC Davis Health

While patients experience a seamless bedside delivery, the program is powered by extensive collaboration across the health system.

Pharmacy leaders partnered with nursing leadership, information technology, nurse educators and other key stakeholders to design workflows that integrated smoothly into the electronic health record and existing clinical processes. The program launched as a pilot before gradually expanding across inpatient units.

"We had to build a lot of infrastructure to get the program off the ground," Lau said. "There were many stakeholders involved, and it was important to make sure the program integrated smoothly into existing workflows without disrupting patient care."

That collaboration has benefited caregivers as well as patients. Prior to the program, nurses or family members often had to leave patient units to pick up medications, taking time away from patient care. By bringing medications directly to the bedside, care teams can remain focused on their patients while helping facilitate a more efficient discharge process.

The pharmacy team measures performance and identifies opportunities for improvement by tracking key metrics through a dedicated dashboard, including patient capture rates and reductions in medication turnaround times.

National recognition for innovation

The success of the UC Davis Health Meds to Beds program has attracted attention from health systems across the country.

Pharmacist Lisa Tarko reviews a prescribed medication for a patient.

Earlier this year, UC Davis Health was selected to present its innovative Meds to Beds workflow enhancements at Epic's XGM Conference. Healthcare organizations nationwide learned about the team's automated enrollment processes, chain-of-custody documentation and technology innovations.

Attendees showed particular interest in UC Davis Health's opt-out enrollment model as an alternative to the commonly used opt-in approach. They were also eager to learn about the organization's integrated tracking systems, which enhance medication delivery by improving safety and efficiency and minimizing disruption to clinical operations.

Looking ahead

As the program enters its third year, leaders are focused on continuing to expand patient access. Recently, Meds to Beds expanded operations to include weekends and holidays, helping ensure patients can receive medications regardless of when they are discharged.

The team is also exploring opportunities to bring similar services to additional care settings outside the hospital.

For the pharmacy discharge team, the program's growth reflects a simple but powerful goal of ensuring patients have the tools they need to continue their recovery after hospitalization.

"By delivering medications directly to a patient's bedside, we're able to provide both convenience and peace of mind before discharge," shared Adriana Lepe, discharge pharmacy technician. "My hope is that this service helps make the transition home a little easier by ensuring patients have what they need and one less thing to worry about as they focus on their recovery."