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While
the advancements of medical science are paving the way for healthy
living, prescription medications have been found to enhance
the quality of life for many people. On the contrary, many of
the latest prescribed medicines have been found to impose detrimental
repercussions when they are incorrectly taken. Recent statistics
depict that a quarter of a million medication errors are committed
annually from outpatient settings alone. These
prescription blunders may be relatively insignificant ensuing
minor adverse effects that patients are not cognizant. The worst
case scenario has run the gamut of patients taking inappropriate
medication, incorrect dosing or even not medication whatsoever.
The
result of prescription drug errors is largely due in part to
a communication breakdown between doctors and patients, physicians
and nurses, families and patients as well as the patient and
the nurses.
Primarily,
these medication blunders are the main reasons medical questionnaires
may seem redundant. Additionally, medical experts recommend
patients to pose innumerous questions to the medical provider.
In an effort to streamline and reduce the number of medication
errors, a medicine safety checklist has been developed by the
US government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
At
the same token, many patients are reluctant to ask several questions
regarding their medication because, healthcare professionals
have a limited span of time to attend to their patients. Quite
often, patients have question subsequent to the medical visit;
however, determining who to contact is not clearly defined.
One
of the easiest ways to circumvent prescription errors is by
bringing all medications to your doctor’s appointment. It’s
effective because many times physicians are unaware of all the
medicines a patient using. The medications should not be limited
to prescribed drugs. Both over the counter medicines and herbal
supplements that are taken on a regular basis should be brought
to the examination room, as well. |
