Caregivers and the Internet

The Medication Management Challenge
By Julie Fulmer-Mason, PharmD
1.8 billion prescription medications dispensed annually in U.S. Nearly 75% of Americans do not take their medications as prescribed Causes 125,000 deaths per year Accounts for 10% of all hospital admissions Direct result of 23% of new admissions to assisted living-type facilities Costs US health care system about $290 billion per year The Solutions 8 Ways to Improve Your Medication Adherence Get Organized Keep ALL active medications in one location and in their original containers. Store medications in dry environment Away from bathroom humidity, heat/steam in kitchen, moisture in refrigerator, direct sunlight Liberate yourself from your pill bottles Use an organizational system (pill box) Promotes mobility Increases awareness of missed doses and need to order refills Dispose Unwanted/Expired Medications Do not flush down toilet or sink. Mix with unpleasant substance (kitty litter or coffee grounds), put in sealed container and dispose in trash Call your garbage/recycling company for local services Federal Drug Take-Back Program Occurs about twice a year Call garbage/recycling company for nearest location Walgreens medication disposal envelope ($4.00) Initiate Medication Reminder System Dramatically reduces chance of missed doses Coordinate medication taking with routine daily activities For medication regimens dosed multiple times per day… Utilize medication reminder alarm products Electronic pill boxes or medication organizers Cell phone apps Make medications “mobile” Limit Physicians Managing Medications Communication between different physicians and different healthcare facilities is poor Patients need to take proactive role of keeping ALL healthcare providers on same “playing field” in ensure quality care Goal: Try to keep each medication under the control of one physician A medication managed by multiple physicians increases risk of… Inaccurate medication records Duplication of therapy Provide Home Medication List At EVERY visit, provide list of prescription/ over-the-counter medications and vitamins For each medication or vitamin, include… Brand AND generic name Dosage Strength How you take it Use calendar for “as needed” medications Record date, time, and dosage strength taken Helps to assess effectiveness of therapy Ask Questions YOU are in charge of your health, never be intimidated to question the care you receive Engage your physician/pharmacist to review your medications at every visit… Is it still necessary to continue some medications? Can some medications be replaced with a combination product? Do any of your medications come as a long-acting formulation? Ask for alternatives if you cannot afford medications Use One Pharmacy Record of all dispensed prescriptions and refill dates in one place Improves a pharmacist’s ability to catch… Drug Interactions Duplications of Therapy Better coordination of refill dates Establishes a personal relationship with a pharmacist Possesses significant wealth of information Offers free consultations, no appointment needed Keep It Simple! Studies show the incidence of missed doses increases dramatically the more times you take medication per day Unless directed otherwise, take your medications NO MORE than 4 times per day Consult your pharmacist to determine... Which medications can/can not be taken together The best time of the day to take certain medications Julie Fulmer-Mason, received her Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of California – San Francisco in 1998, and has practiced as a Clinical Pharmacist in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System and the pharmaceutical industry. From her days of working at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, California, a multitude of patients were referred to Julie with medication compliance issues. A specific relationship forged with a patient inspired Julie to design and invent the MedFolio medication management device. You can visit her website at medfoliopillbox.com. Subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter