In any kind of caregiving or medical setting, the staff must have a plan for medication management. All the medications given to patients and residents are expected to be thoroughly reviewed for safety and adherence concerns.
When a medication management plan is accurately developed and implemented, healthcare costs can be reduced, and overall care can be improved. Patients and CDPAP caregivers should both be educated about their medications to ensure there are no adverse drug effects.
What is medication management?
Medication management is when medications that are prescribed are overseen. It also includes ensuring that patients are taking all their medicines properly and that the therapeutic outcome is being reached.
Medication management is also used as a way to ensure that patients are taking medicines to improve their health and care symptoms. If symptoms can’t be completely cured, medication management will ensure the patients’ condition is better managed at the very least.
Medication management best practices include:
● Engaging patients and educating them about their medicines
● Following up with high-risk patients in a timely manner
● Discuss medications and regiment changes
● Update guidelines and recommendations as needed
● Always have follow-up visits when needed
● Have plans for comprehensive discharge planning
Why is medication management important?
Medication management is important because it ensures that patients are taking the correct medications at the correct time. It also helps nurses and caregivers give the correct dosages.
It also limits medication errors which can avoid deaths, medical bill errors, and other medical errors that can be life-threatening. Statistics show that there are frequent medication errors in hospitals and caregiving settings. The statistics can be startling:
● There are 250,000-400,000 deaths caused by medical errors every year.
● 1 in 7 Medicare patients has experienced a medical error in hospitals.
● 49-53% of medical errors involve a nearly graduated nurse or someone who has less than a year of working in a healthcare setting.
● There was $17.1 billion spent on medical errors that harmed patients in 2008.
These statistics are less than ideal and show that medication management is vital to the health of patients. Since most errors are made by new nurses or new caregivers, it’s extremely important to give them extra training or watch them until they can be trusted to give the correct medications.
Implementing a thorough medication management plan will also keep any of the staff members from making mistakes whether they are new or not.
What is a medication management plan?
A medication management plan is a strategy that engages patients and caregivers to have a complete and accurate medication list. A medication management plan will list all of a patient’s current medications including supplements and vitamins.
It’s also important to list a patient’s allergies, potential overdoses, and underdoses, as well as any other factors that might hinder adherence.
Here are some things to include in a medication management plan:
Medication List
This should always be complete and accurate. It doesn’t need to be fancy or be more than one page. Just a simple list with the names and dosages of all the medicines that the patient is on. The clinician can then use the list to have an accurate picture of the patient.
Patient Information Card
This should be given to the patient at the same time they are given their reminder appointment card. It’s a simple reminder to tell the patient to bring all their medications to all their medical appointments. It’s easy for patients to forget, so have a small reminder can help them remember.
This also doesn’t need to be fancy. It can be a small postcard or business card size.
Patient Fact Sheet
This can be a simple one-page handout that informs the patient about their medication management strategies. If the patient is not capable of remembering or administering their own medications, ensure that a family member also gets a copy of the patient fact sheet.
Encourage family members or spouses to participate in the medication management plan. The sheet should include all of the medications and the role they take in helping with symptoms and conditions. It’s important for patients to know why they are taking certain medications.
Common Barriers to Medication Adherence
This is for clinicians to help them discuss with patients and families the challenges of medications. It should go over adherence guidelines and why it’s important to take all the medications on time and the correct dosage.
Training and engagement
For a medication management plan to work effectively, practice staff needs to be trained on how to make accurate and complete medication lists. It’s also important for them to learn to engage patients.
Patients who are engaged in their own care are more likely to manage their medications better and be more willing to take proactive steps to make themselves healthier.
Checklist
Having a checklist is one of the easiest ways to stay organized. The checklist should include all the steps for filling out forms, engaging patients, and creating handouts for patients to take home as reminders.
Having a checklist will ensure that all of your medication lists are accurate. It will also help the practice staff not miss any critical steps.
How do you manage multiple medications?
Managing multiple medications can seem difficult especially if the patient or nurse is new. Knowing how to manage multiple medications can inhibit misuse.
Have one central source as a record
All medications should be listed in an easy-to-find record. Having multiple pages or sources is an easy way to forget certain medications. Make sure the patient, the staff, the caregivers, and the family members all have the same record.
Know allergies and reactions
All allergies and reactions should be listed on the medication list. Each medicine should also have clear instructions and tell the patient if there is anything they can’t consume or drink with their medicine.
Fill all prescriptions at one pharmacy
This will allow the pharmacist and the patient to know all their medications and possible drug interactions. Having multiple pharmacies can allow things to get lost or forgotten. Remember to ask the pharmacist if any of the medications interact with each other and ensure they can be taken at the same time.
Use a reminder system
Many people find it helpful to set alarms or other noise reminders for when they should be taking medications. This is especially important if pills have to be taken before meals or at very specific times of the day.
Pillboxes with compartments are also helpful. Remember to keep them updated and filled correctly so you can take the right ones. If you don’t want to use a noise alarm, you can put a paper schedule near your medications or on the fridge.
Get all medicines refilled early
Running out of medicine can cause conditions to worsen. Even going without medication for a few hours or a few days can cause serious adverse effects. Always ask your pharmacist to refill pills early.
Keep your list updated regularly
Always make sure your medication list is updated regularly and has all of your current medications on it. Add new medicines to the list as soon as possible.
Yearly review
Some medications don’t have to be taken for prolonged times. Always take all medications to the doctor and annual visits. Sometimes the doctor may say that certain medicines don’t need to be taken anymore.
What are the 5 rights of medication management?
The Five Rights of Medication Administration. One of the recommendations to reduce medication errors and harm is to use the “five rights”: the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time.
The right patient
It may seem unfathomable that nurses and caregivers give medications to the wrong patient, but unfortunately it happens more than you think. All medications need to be clearly labeled with the right name and birthdate.
The label on the medication needs to be checked with the patient’s chart. The full name and birthdate should always match. It’s best to check more than once or to ask another staff member to check for you.
The right drug
Patients should never be given a drug meant for someone else or for a condition they don’t have. Check the drug’s name against the medication management plan and ensure they are exactly the same.
If there’s any doubt, do not give the medication to the patient. If the wrong medicine is administered, notify someone immediately and decide if extra care needs to be taken.
The right dose
The dose is just as important as the medicine and the patient. Too much or too little of a medicine can cause adverse effects. It can also make the patient have a more difficult time managing their conditions.
The right route
Medicines can be administered by injections, intravenously, or orally. The way the medicine is given is just as important as the medicine itself. Always double-check patient charts or medication plans to ensure they are accurately receiving the medicine.
The right time
Some medications need to be given during the day and some others need to be given during the evening. Some should also be taken on an empty stomach while others need to be taken with food. Always ensure medicines are given at the correct time and all precautions are followed.
How can caregivers help with medication management?
Oftentimes caregivers are in charge of giving medicine to people because the patient might not be able to remember when or what to take. Caregivers need to be probably trained on what the medications do and when they should be given.
Whether the caregiver is a professional or a relative, there are a few key ways they can help with medication management.
Research
Caregivers should research the medicines they are in charge of and know what they do and why the patient is on them. They can also write notes to remind them.
Ask questions
Caregivers should have the doctor and pharmacist’s contact information and phone number. This way they can easily ask questions and be better informed.
Follow directions
All directions should be followed for that specific medication, and they should never be mixed or placed in the wrong bottle. If you are using a pill sorter, make sure you know what each medication looks like and that your loved one knows how to use the sorter.
Devices that can help with medication management
Several devices have been made throughout the years to help people manage their medications. They are especially important if someone is on multiple medications and needs to take them on a set schedule.
The most popular devices for medication management are:
● Mobile apps
● Medications alarms
● Automatic dispensers
● Talking medication bottles
● Pill organizers
Mobile apps can be installed on a smartphone or tablet. It allows a patient to digitally organize their medications and is a great visual guide. It also lets patients keep track of what medications they have taken for that day. The most used apps are Pillboxie and MediSafe.
Medication alarms are great for patients or caregivers to wear. They will send alerts when patients need to receive medicine so that they can be administered on time.
Automatic medication dispensers are programmed to dispense the medicine on a set schedule. They will also make a noise when they are dispensing to help remind the person it’s time for their medication.
Talking medication bottles have a chip in them that allows caregivers and patients to record messages. It will tell the medication type, the dosage, and the times of day the medicine should be taken.
A 31-day pill organizer can give a month’s supply of pills all in one convenient place. It will also ensure that all medications are taken at the correct times. These are also portable and are great if someone is traveling or needs to take their pills with them on the road.