Awareness – the best medicine                                          

March is Safety Month in health care. An area that is often overlooked is medication safety. Each year medication errors causing health problems and even resulting in death occur. Often these problems are preventable. Many are caused by communication breakdown between the patient and their health care providers.

Older adults who often take a number of medicines each day find it hard to keep track, stay on schedule and understand why and when they should take their medicines.

Patients and health care providers and even the community need to work together to assure the highest level of safety possible .In 2006 in Walworth County Aurora obtained a grant to develop a program for medication safety because they felt this was a way to do just that; have patients, health care providers and the community work together to assure the highest level of safety possible.

Patients can and should “take ownership” of their health and medications by asking questions. As a patient you are entitled to and should know what medications you are taking and why. Feel free to ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist questions at any time; don’t leave the doctor’s office, hospital or pharmacy if there is anything you don’t understand. If you have a hearing problem please remind your health care providers, they may not remember.

Whenever you are prescribed a new medicine be sure to ask these questions: WHY am I taking this medicine? HOW LONG do I need to take this medicine? Are there any SIDE EFFECTS? Do I CONTINUE MY OTHER MEDICINES?

ALWAYS read the labels carefully and take the medicine exactly as prescribed. Don’t make changes in how/when you take your medications without checking with your doctor. Try to use the same pharmacy for all your prescriptions, that way the pharmacist can also help you keep track of what you are taking.

Keep a CURRENT LIST of all medicines you are taking, INCLUDING OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES (such as herbal supplements, vitamins, antacids, aspirin). We are encouraging patients to take all of their medications and over the counter medicines/supplements to your doctor’s visit so they or the nurse can review what you are currently taking.

It’s always OK and I encourage you to: ask questions about your medicines; let the Dr., nurse or pharmacist know if a medication looks different to you or if anything on the label doesn’t seem right; when you take your medications for review, make sure what you’re currently taking is what the Dr. has listed in your chart as well.

If you have any questions or would like a medication card to keep track of your medications feel free to ask your Dr., Pharmacist or your Parish Nurse and they will be glad to give you a medication card and show you how to fill it out.

Remember in addition to taking your regular medicines, a good laugh can increase your endorphins and strengthen your immune system!

Blessings, peace and health,

Maureen Redmer, RN 

Aurora Parish Nurse Program

March 2007