Patients and personal caregivers can become part of the solution by being informed consumers. According to the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists, "if patients are more knowledgeable . . . errors in treatment may be prevented." Telling a physician or nurse something as simple as "this pill is the wrong color" could make all the difference in the world.
Saying something as simple as "I've been getting blue pills all week, and these are yellow" could save your life. And don't take "These are the generics" for an answer. They may not be.
Know
your allergies
Allergic reactions are one of the most common types of adverse drug reactions.
Don't be afraid to remind people that you are allergic to penicillin,
cortisone, or any one of a thousand of drugs used today.
Don't
be afraid to ask questions
Physicians and nurses are pressed for time, it's true. But it's also true
that only you know how you're feeling. If you forget what you needed to
ask as soon as you see a white uniform or lab coat, write your questions
down ahead of time.
Ask
your physician if he or she uses e-mail
Many physicians and patients are finding that e-mail provides a form of
intimacy and responsiveness that telephones and hurried, infrequent conferences
do not. If both you and your physician have access to e-mail, use it.
Use
the buddy system
If you are unable to communicate with hospital staff about your medication,
appoint a friend or family member to do it for you. Make them responsible
for reminding nurses and physicians what you should be taking, asking
whether expected lab results have come back, or what happened to an overdue
dose.
Be forthcoming
Tell your physicians how what medications you are actually taking may
deviate from what you are supposed to be taking. It doesn't help to hide
the truth.
Understand
compliance
Many drug therapies, particularly with antimicrobials, involve specific
compliance routines for maximum benefit. Bacteria, in particular, can
become resistant to antibiotics if the prescribed sequence and duration
is not followed. Don't stop taking antibiotics just because "you feel
better"-- take the fully prescribed course of medication.
For additional advice for consumers, visit the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Web site.