Importance of medication management

According to a research done by Mayo Clinic, approximately 70% of Americans are on at least medication. Furthermore, seniors make up more than 40% of the mentioned statistics.

According to the ASCP, individuals between 65 to 69, on average, take around 14 prescriptions per year. Also, people between 80 to 84 take an average of 18 prescriptions per year.

In addition to the high importance of medications to stabilize patients’ condition, the time and dose you take matter.

Home Health facilities provide medication management services to lessen the burden on your shoulders. The grounds on which Home Health skilled nurses can aid involve:

  • Assisting in making medication schedule
  • Rechecking medication diet
  • Creating a list of all prescribed medicines
  • Educating patient on proper dosage, frequency, and side effects
  • Analyzing response to medications and effectiveness
  • Communicating with patient’s doctor for details

 

What are the benefits of medication management?

Adverse medication reactions are higher among older adults 65+, ending in emergency room visits. In addition, the risk of not following the proper medication after surgery or for chronic pain/illnesses can result in a higher cost of financial and physical recovery.

If you don’t take your blood pressure pills, it could raise your chances of a heart attack, kidney failure, a stroke, or other complications. Also, OTC medications can be harmful to skip. If your doctor has prescribed you aspirin after a heart attack or a stroke, eliminating it might make a rebound to your condition and lead to another heart attack.

Some benefits of medication management at home provided by skilled nurses include:

  • Reducing the potential risk to mistake the high volume of prescriptions
  • Taking the medication on time and routinely
  • Monitoring tricky drugs such as Warfarin
  • Bringing about a successful recovery or control of illness
  • Full protection from side effects
  • Reduction in the risk of drug interactions
Medication Management in Las Vegas

Why is medication management important?

According to Beena Jimmy and Jimmy Jose research, improper medication management has a serious impact on healthcare costs and wellbeing.

  • The estimations indicate that half of the US patients don’t take their medications correctly. To top it off, one-quarter of them never fill their first prescription at all. 
  • Due to adverse reactions to medication, approximately 700,000 people visit the emergency room. 
  • $290 billion is the estimated annual cost of improper medication take. 

Medication management helps patients to increase their quality of life and ensure their safety. 

Experts indicate that about “70% of the US citizens are taking prescribed medicine which the seniors make up 40% of them. They are often unable to take the medicine right, on time, or drink enough water with it. 

The ASCP (American Society of Consultant Pharmacists) says that “the seniors aged 65-69 take 14 prescribed drugs per day while the 80-84 age range take about 18 drugs per day”. Managing this large amount of prescribed drugs is tough for seniors. 

Taking wrong medication and adverse reactions is considerably higher among the 65+ aged group. The result is frequent emergency room visits and further health problems. The possibility of re-hospitalization and the cost of recovery would also rise.

Management and taking the medicine right could lead to the control of chronic illness and a shorter recovery period of an illness. 

 

Medication management near me

Health and Care Professional Network is your option for searching “Medication management near me” in Las Vegas. Our specialists assess your situation and determine a plan for managing medication. There might be different causes for your pain by your lifestyle, job and medical background. Then, the caregiver recommends the best plan. He/she also advises changes in your habits to appropriate for the medication you take, such as drinking water. 

 

Medication management tips after you leave hospital 

When you leave hospital, the following medication management tips help your recovery process:

  • Consult with an expert on safe medication management 
  • Follow the prescribed medicine, not self ones 
  • Make a list of the medication to use 
  • Create a routine or habit in taking medication 
  • Learn about the counteraction and side effects 
  • Get your medication before they run out 
  • Know the proper medication store 
  • Pillbox or dispenser is good investment 
  • Reminders can help to create a routine or habit.
  • Follow instruction on taking medication 
  • Review medication with your doctor regularly 
  • Inform your doctor of the negative side effects 

 

Elderly medication management tips 

The eldlery might not be able to take their medication on their own. Mental and physical health problems make it hard for them to manage medication properly. A caregiver or specialist can do it perfectly. There are side and adverse effects for taking wrong or not taking medication among the seniors. The following tips could help with the elderly medication management:

  • Put all the medication, supplements, vitamins nearby in one box. 
  • Ensure the medication is stored properly. 
  • Make an exact list of the details. 
  • Use one week organizer to manage medication properly 
  • Double check of the side and adverse effects 
  • Alzheimer’s or dementia patients need more help 
  • Plan medication refills 
  • Make sure not the eldlery take medication on empty stomach 
  • Check prior health conditions (diabetic, etc.) 
  • Learn about the new health condition and side effects
  • Make sure of the dosage with the doctor or caregiver

7 Rights of Medication Management

Correct Medication

Any healthcare practitioner who gives the medicine should compare it to the signed form to confirm that the name of the drug on the bottle or package exactly matches the name on the signed form. This should be examined each time the drug is given. Then, keep the medicine in its original packaging.

Correct Child

The risk of inappropriate drug administration rises during specific seasons of the year when numerous children require medicine or if your program has several children enrolled who require pharmaceutical assistance (including diabetes, asthma, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Forms and medicine must be double-checked to verify that the correct child receives the medication.

Correct Dose

It is necessary to confirm that the correct dosage was measured. Using the medication spoon that the pharmacist provided is a good approach to ensure this. Medication administration is not a forum for speculation. Any concerns should be directed to the family for resolution.

Correct Time

The drug’s timing should be clearly mentioned on the medication and the signed form. Additionally, when the kid comes, instructors must clarify with the family when the previous dose of medicine was taken and when the next one is due. This type of information should be recorded in some way, such as on the child’s daily sheet or a medicine administration form. Again, work with your coach or licensing agency to ensure you have all the necessary papers for your Service or state. Similarly, when the kid is picked up by their parents, the instructor should give written proof of medicine delivery.

Correct Route

Medication can be conducted in a variety of methods. Often, medication administered by instructors is either orally or through an inhaler. Method confirmation should be stated on both the drug and the signed form.

Correct Reason

Medication should always be administered with care and for the right reason (e.g., Tylenol for teething pain and breathing treatment for asthma attacks). To ensure that the medication is given for the correct reason, it is beneficial to consult the healthcare plan or inclusion support plans.

Correct Documentation

Each medicine administration should be documented. After each dose, the instructor who administered the medicine should document the administration as soon as possible. This is an important step. Without adequate paperwork, another adult or a family member of the kid may fail to deliver the next dose of medication, which might have major health consequences for the child.

Home Health services at Las Vegas

With in-home medication management services by our professional caregivers, you may not need to attend an assisted living community, which can be financially hard on a family. Depending on your needs, a Home Health skilled nurse can come to your home administering medications or simply reminding you to take them.

To book an appointment, you can call us at (702) 871-9917 at any time of the day to receive professional medical care at home.

You can get information about other Home Health services.

FAQs

What is the purpose of a medication management program?

It is to ensure the patient gets his/her medicine at the right time and in order to get the best results. 

Are there benefits to the medication management program?

Yes, the patient’s health conditions improve and get better sooner. 

Who is a medication management program helpful for?

The elderly and people who can’t take care of themselves. 

Why is medication management important?

Improper medication management has a serious impact on healthcare costs and wellbeing.

3 Comments

  1. susan says:

    They are doing a great job in taking care of the elderly and the disabled at home.

  2. DOUGLAS says:

    How long can the nurses or caregivers stay with my family member for the medication management?

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