O-12-703 Address Medication Interaction Warnings
🎯 Purpose
To define how to identify drug-to-drug interactions in PointCare, and document the actions taken to prevent clinically significant interactions (requirements outlined in policy A-3-186 Medication Management).
🔄 Process
The following process should be utilized anytime drug-to-drug interactions are identified during a drug regimen review. Home Care Home Base generates medication interaction warnings when drug-to-drug interactions are identified after new are medications entered into PointCare.
A comprehensive medication review (medication reconciliation) is required when updating the medication list. Medications entered will turn RED if they interact (see A-3-186 Medication Management policy for other encounters/events that require a comprehensive medication review):
View the interaction content by pressing and holding the drug name and select "interactions":
Medication interactions will indicate severity level:
- Drug Interactions are classified in 4 levels. The follow-up actions are determined by the clinician’s professional clinical judgement and A-3-186 Medication Management policy. The clinician’s decision is made based on the client’s clinical status, clinical documentation, and any directions from the provider(s). Clinicians are required to assess the risk to the client and act as needed. A MEDICATION INTERACTION NOTE is required for all Level 1 and Level 2 interactions:
- Level 1 (Contraindicated Drug Combinations): contains drug combinations that are contraindicated and generally should not be dispensed or administered together.
- Level 2 (Severe Interaction): contains drug combinations that may produce serious consequences in most patients.
- Level 3 (Moderate): contains interactions that are of moderate severity.
- Level 9 (Undetermined Severity): involves agents that are classified as alternative therapy.
- Drug Interactions are classified in 4 levels. The follow-up actions are determined by the clinician’s professional clinical judgement and A-3-186 Medication Management policy. The clinician’s decision is made based on the client’s clinical status, clinical documentation, and any directions from the provider(s). Clinicians are required to assess the risk to the client and act as needed. A MEDICATION INTERACTION NOTE is required for all Level 1 and Level 2 interactions:
The clinician will be prompted to review all drug-drug interactions when saving the medication profile:
- When indicated, complete a MEDICATION INTERACTION NOTE as follows:
Press and hold the Warning severity note:
Select Medication Interaction Note:
Document action taken: Clinician should document which provider was notified and any other action taken
- If the provider was not contacted, documentation should include the rationale for not contacting the provider.
NOTE: An interaction note is only generated/required if either of the medications, within the interaction, are new.
For example, if the interaction was addressed in a previous episode, they will show as validated and will not require additional action, but may still be reviewed:
Select Save:
- Attestation Statement generates to explain what clinician is signing. Select "Dismiss":
Sign attesting a drug review was completed:
Select Save:
📅 Effective: 07/17/2025  |  ✅ Approved by: JS