Medication safety is very important for one’s health. Many things can wrong if one is not properly taking medication or keeping track of what medication they are taking. Dr. Evans says the one thing that takes complexity out of taking medication is an Up-To-Date Medication List. I very much agree with Dr. Evans because an up-to-date medication list makes things less difficult when seeing your physician about an issue. For example, if the issue at hand requires medication you and your physician want to make sure the new medication won’t have any adverse effects or create complications while taking other medications. Knowing how and what medications you are taking provides clarity on what each medication is for and how it could be affecting your body. Dr. Evans also mentions a study about 31% of patients do not even fill their prescriptions when given. This can definitely cause confusion because if your physician or other healthcare providers believe you are on a particular medication and you are not; they will most likely believe things will be getting better when the problem is still there. The whole purpose of an Up-To-Date Medication List, is to make things easier and smoother when visiting your physician.
Since I'm young and don't take a lot of medications I've never thought about the importance of an up-to-date medication list; but now I see that they are very important. Keeping track of the medications you take can help prevent harm. There has been times where I've went to the doctor and not known the name of my medication, after watching this video I'm sure to make one.
always love the cartoonish art that accompanies your informative videos. makes it so easy, simple and enjoyable to follow. thank you for your work Dr Mike Evans :D!
For clarity, reduced harm, and increased effectiveness an up to date medication list is essential. Sometimes it is hard for a patient to keep up with their medications and explain to their physicians what medication is doing what. In the elderly community, many patients are taking five or more medications daily. Some medications are prescribed by doctors who do not talk to each other. With a medication list, a patient’s health is better controlled. A doctor, nurse, pharmacist, and caregiver can understand the patient better. The right medications will be prescribed. With this list, there is better patient-physician communication, less mistakes are made, and there is better control over the patients’ health. 31% of patients tend to not fill their prescription that the physician assumes they are taking, with the medication list the physician can easily see that the patient is still having symptoms because of the negligence on the patient’s behalf. Overall, I believe the simplest way for a patient to have medication safety is to simply write out an up to date medication list. The list describes symptoms, when they take their medications, and how. This is key to patient-physician communication, and can save the patient’s life.
This Canadian video neatly explains why an up-to-date medicines list is so important for managing your health. For Australian resources similar to those mentioned visit www.nps.org.au/medicineslist, including a free Medicine List to print or a smart phone app. Plus in Australia you can call the Adverse Medicine Events Line to report a medicines problem on 1300 134 237 or online at the TGA www.tga.gov.au/safety/problem.htm
Well your right that Seniors are given more then 5 medications at times, it does make one wonder, I tell you what I went in cause I discovered a lump on myself, thing was it didn't hurt, I understand it was at stage 1, Let me tell you after all..........those injections of Chimo, I've not yet felt. worst then before that Lump, let me tell you something else I was Never shown the knot ? Why Not ?2 years and some months later I still feel without strength ,they never considered the Diabetes and Chrones diseases I already had, today I'm getting worst, at 1st Stage ????
Medic Alert is a vital service that should be promoted by all health professionals as an essential part of a health care plan. I personally recommend having a Medic Alert bracelet and prescribing on a yearly basis. I also recommend utilising the Advance Protection Service which covers an Advance Directive, Emergency Action Plan, Enduring Power of Attorney and Drug trial information. Having multiple medical conditions, multiple warnings and allergies I have found the Medic Alert service is the only way to protect myself from being treated inappropriately which has happened multiple times previous to getting a Medic Alert bracelet. I also recommend anybody that has an adverse reaction to also report this to CARM (Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring). This ensures the medication is noted and reported to the Ministry of Health as well as world health organisations so warnings can be issued for particular medications. The more people that report adverse reactions the more these medications can be less prescribed or even banned if needed.
Should patients be responsible for their own medication safety or is this primarily the physician responsibility? yes, I do think that the patients should be responsible for their own treatment just in rehabilitation. Especially since doctors have been known to make medical errors that have caused death or illness within patients. One thing that people don't realize is that ever medication and treatment does not have the same effects on everybody.
