MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
Medication management is the monitoring of medication that a patient takes to confirm that he or she is complying with a medication regimen, while also ensuring the patient is avoiding potentially dangerous drug interactions and other complications. This is especially important for those taking large quantities of medication to address chronic illnesses and multiple diseases. Taking multiple medication is known as polypharmacy, and it is particularly common among older adults, as they are more likely to need medication to manage an array of chronic conditions. There are a number of aspects to medication management, all of which are focused on making sure that medication is used appropriately. Keeping track of all of the medication currently in use by a patient is an important part. For the residents in the care centre as well as those in the villages, creating a printed list describing medication, their dosages, and how they are being used will ensure a proper dispensing regime.
These lists can be kept in patient charts and provided to patients to help them track the drugs they use and understand why various medication are being prescribed.
Monitoring medication administration is also key. Medication usually needs to be taken in specific doses at set intervals. Missing doses or timing doses incorrectly can cause complications. To manage this, everything from devices that issue reminders to patients to take their medication, to filling pill cases for patients and marking the lid of each compartment to indicate when the contents need to be taken may be used.
Arrangements can be made with the local pharmacy to do blister packaging of medication. This is especially critical for those residents who self-administer their own or loved one’s medication.
Medication packed by the pharmacists ensure that conflicting medications and/or incorrect dosages is not administered at the same time, and the risk of non-compliancy is much lower.
It also includes reminding patients about whether or not drugs need to be taken with food, and warning them about potential side effects such as fatigue, hunger, or altered level of consciousness that might disrupt their activities.