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Preventing Medication Errors
Patients should be willing to ask questions and insist on getting
answers.
Ian Stewart, BSc Phm
Today, Canadians have access to high quality health care that
helps to maintain or restore health and well being. Our health-care
professionals are extensively trained, dedicated and committed
to providing the best possible patient care.
But when it comes to taking medicines, patients must understand
that they, too, play an important role in preventing errors and
ensuring their safety. A well-informed patient can be a crucial
last check on the safety of any medication.
Some patients may be unwilling to question their health-care
providers; they may perceive them as being too busy or intimidating,
or believe that it is disrespectful to question their doctor
or pharmacist. In fact, patients should be willing to ask questions
and insist on getting answers.
Here are some things that patients can do to avoid medication
errors and make sure they are receiving the best possible drug
therapy.
- Keep and up to date list of all medications you're taking,
including samples received from the doctor, nonprescription
drugs, vitamins and herbal products. This record should also
list any medication and food allergies and chronic medical
conditions. The information should be shared with all health-care
providers on every visit.
- Know the name, purpose and dosage instructions for all newly
prescribed medications before leaving the doctor's office.
This information will help the pharmacist dispense the prescription
exactly as the doctor intended.
- When receiving any medication, be aware of both the brand
and generic names, the purpose, the dosage, when it's to be
taken and possible side effects. Ask your pharmacist to also
provide this information in written form.
- If you receive any medication that looks different than what
you have had before, do not assume it is merely a change in
brand. Also, if you experience any unexpected side effect,
do not assume it will simply go away. If at any time something
seems wrong, contact your pharmacist or doctor immediately.
- Read labels carefully every time before you take any medication.
This is especially important for patients taking multiple medications.
Many patients have taken the wrong drug as a result of grabbing
the wrong bottle. Know exactly what you ar putting in your
mouth before swallowing it.
- When purchasing nonprescription drugs, patients and caregivers
must read the label carefully to confirm the correct drug and
dosage. Products should not be bought based on the brand name
alone. Many nonprescription drugs have similar names but come
in different formats and contain different active ingredients.
for example, some children's medicines may be available in
different strengths, and purchasing the wrong strength could
result in the administration of double the required dose.
- Hospitalized patients should know the name, purpose and dosage
intervals of all medications they're receiving, and if the
patient is not well enough, a family member should be willing
to act on the patient's behalf.
Clearly, patients play a vital role in preventing medication
errors. And your pharmacist can be a key partner. Pharmacists
are the most accessible health-care professionals, and they are
well positioned to answer all your questions to ensure safe
medication use. Be an educated patient - ASK YOUR PHARMACIST.
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The information in this newsletter was prepared and reviewed
by pharmacists for the Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal.
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Ask Your Pharmacist newsletter is produced through
an unconditional educational grant from APOTEX/PACE. |
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