Local consultant pharmacist Deborah Hawthorne is encouraging more local people to take advantage of a free medication review in their own home.
Debbie travels across the region having a "medicines chat" with people at home, working with doctors and pharmacies to make sure your medicines are safe and working well for you.
It's a vital service which has been running for many years and is fully funded by the Australian government (so free to the recipient) but it seems a lot of people are still not aware it exists.
"Medications can be scary and lots of things can go wrong," Debbie said.
"I feel quite privileged to be allowed into people's homes to make sure mistakes aren't made and people don't end up in hospital because they are doubling up on medicine, taking it at the wrong time, or not understanding how to take it correctly."
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Debbie said she also works in aged care and in the intellectual disability space, visiting supported independent living facilities and helping carers too.
The service is supported by GPs, who often have limited time with patients who have come to be treated for a specific problem, and also don't have specialist training in medication.
Debbie said she is part of the extended health care team, so people who may be on multiple medications, or medications which aren't working optimally, can be referred to her by their doctor.
"Because it's in their home, people are often more comfortable, and they tell you more information and get out all their medications which we can go through," she said.
"We have an ageing community in North East Victoria, and the older you are, the more chronic diseases you generally have, and the more medications you are generally on."
Debbie says the average person she sees may be taking 10 to 15 different medications and it can be confusing, but even taking one or two incorrectly can mean something could go wrong.
She usually spends about an hour on the visit, ensuring medications are being taken correctly, and often visiting people who have been recently discharged from hospital with medicines they are not sure they should still be taking.
"There's a lot of data to show medication is one of the top reasons people re-admit to hospital within four weeks after discharge," she said.
"I also look at creams, supplements, puffers - all the non-prescribed medicines - which might have a role to play for some people, but might not be safe for others.
"It's all about person-centred care - understanding what needs and concerns they may have - and I base my consultation around that."
Debbie has been servicing the area since 2018 and her role takes her from Euroa to the border and everywhere in between, but the program limits her to seeing 30 patients a month, and it doesn't fund her travel, despite driving hundreds of kilometres a week.
As part of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the national peak body for pharmacists, Debbie visited parliament in Canberra last week to raise awareness of the program and educate politicians about the roles pharmacists can play in helping keep people out of hospitals.
She will also have a stall at the Wangaratta Seniors Festival Caring and Ageing Well Festival at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Wednesday, 15 October from 10am to 1pm, where local residents can find out more.
"If I can get our community to know about this service and ask their GP for it, then hopefully I can help more people to stay at home safer and longer," she said.
"Once I (or one of my colleagues) receive a referral, we call the client and make a convenient time for a medicines chat.
"I'm on my patient's side - I want to keep you where you want to be for as long as possible."
