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.
