What Is a Virtual Med Change?

A Virtual Med Change is a live, recorded Zoom call where a pharmacist guides staff through the process of safely removing (discontinuing) medications from a Dispill med pack.

This ensures discontinued medications are properly removed, documented, destroyed, and helps prevent med errors.

👥 Who This Is For

DSPs, nurses, program directors

📘 What You’ll Learn

When to request a Virtual Med Change, what happens during the Zoom call, and how to prepare.

When to Request a Virtual Med Change

A Virtual Med Change is required when a medication needs to be discontinued (DC’d) from a Dispill med cup
This process ensures discontinued medications are removed and documented properly
It does not apply to bulk medications like creams, inhalers, or liquids
This process is only for removing medications and not for adding them to med packs

💡 Tip: If you’re unsure whether a Virtual Med Change is needed, contact Neighborhood LTC Pharmacy.

Med Change Kits & Supplies

Requesting a Kit

Med change kits are available from Neighborhood LTC Pharmacy
Each kit typically includes enough supplies for 5–10 med changes

What’s Included in the Kit

Each med change kit contains:

Resealable stickers
Tweezers
Gloves
Disinfectant wipes
Disposable med cups
Red marker
Black fine point Sharpie
Med destruction envelope (if needed)

💡 Tip: Check your kit before the call. Let the pharmacy know if anything is missing.

What to Expect During the Call

Initial Setup and Zoom Invite

The pharmacist will send a Zoom link for the call
The meeting will be recorded for verification and quality assurance
Staff and pharmacist will confirm readiness before beginning

📸 A device with video capability is required.

Staff must use a device that allows them to share video during the call
Mobile phones work great and are often the easiest to use for showing med packs

📝 Notes:

Staff should follow their agency’s policy on using company or personal devices for video calls.

Some agencies require a manager or additional staff to be present. Each program should follow its internal protocol.

Patient and Medication Confirmation

Pharmacist confirms the patient’s name
Medication(s) to be discontinued are verified by name, strength, and scheduled times

Making the Change

Staff visually identifies the correct medication in the med cup
Staff opens the med pack, removes the medication, and places it in the discard cup
The med pack is resealed using the provided sticker
This step is repeated for each cup with a discontinued medication

Labeling and Documentation

On the MAR section of the med pack, staff writes “DC” and the date next to each discontinued med
On each med cup, a line is drawn through the discontinued medication using a Sharpie

Medication Disposal

Pharmacist confirms your agency’s med destruction process
If none exists or is unclear, staff places removed tablets in the provided destruction envelope (if supplied)

Wrap-Up

Pharmacist verifies that all med cups are resealed correctly
Call ends after answering questions and confirming completion

📝 Note: The pharmacist will guide you through every step. You are never expected to do this alone.

Important Reminders

Only use this process to remove (discontinue) meds from Dispill med cups
Do not add medications during a Virtual Med Change
Never make changes without a pharmacist present on a recorded call
Agencies should follow their own internal policies for staffing during the call
Contact the pharmacy ahead of time if you need a med change kit
Always verify the patient and the medication before making any changes