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The Medication Management Challenge
By Julie Fulmer-Mason, PharmD
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
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