For LincolnHealth Pharmacists Kari London and Meridith Hackett, helping patients get the most out of their medications often begins with a “brown bag review.”

A brown bag review is an appointment in which a patient brings in all of his or her prescriptions and supplements. Together, the pharmacist and the patient go over each to make sure the patient is taking the correct medications in the right way and at the right time.

London and Hackett work with patients at Lincoln Medical Partner practices to help them avoid negative drug interactions and even reduce the dosage or the number of pills they are taking.

Approximately 40 percent of people over the age of 65 take from five to nine medications and almost 20 percent take ten or more, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study.

Medications help people with chronic diseases like congestive heart failure or diabetes live longer and more active lives, but they can also be hazardous if not used correctly. Medication problems are one of the leading causes of emergency hospitalizations among people age 65 or older.

As patient centered medical homes, Lincoln Medical Partners practices offer patients a range of different services designed to make care easier to access, including diabetes education, counseling, Saturday hours, same-day appointments and meetings with pharmacists.

By helping patients understand how and when to take their medications, London and Hackett help them avoid side effects or problems that can be caused by a wide range of things.

For example, some medications can cause dizziness, which can increase the chance of falls. Taking other medications too close to bedtime can cause frequent trips to the bathroom, which also puts patients at increased risk of falls.

Helping patients avoid these issues is a matter of education and developing a good relationship, said London.

“I really want to build a relationship where patients feel like I am a resource and somebody they can go to if they have any medication related questions,” she said.

London and Hackett are available by appointment at Lincoln Medical Partners practices. After the initial consultation, they are also available to answer questions about medications by phone, usually within 24 hours.

Hackett said helping patients feel comfortable about calling when they have questions is very important to her.

“I feel like when you have a good relationship with your customers and your patients, there is a trust and a confidence and a comfort,” said Hackett. “If they have a question at home, they will feel free to call you up and they won’t be guessing about medications.”