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Every hospital or health facility has a system of monitoring and managing the medications of their patients. These systems let them know which patients are taking what drugs, when they are taking them and what would happen should something go wrong. When one leaves the hospital, it is important to have a safe medication management system at home to ensure the best medical outcome. There are several things one can do this and several ways to achieve this goal.
Get the right information from the right people
With the distinct exclusion of those in the medical field, the vast majority of people do not know how to create a safe medication management system. It is, therefore, important that one talks to their doctor or physician before leaving the hospital. The aim of this is to get all the information one needs about the drugs they are taking. In addition, one should always ask what they ought to do in case of allergies, sleeplessness or other complications.
Do not self-medicate
When prescriptions are written, doctors and professionals take great care to ensure the patient gets the right medication as well as the right dose. They also ensure that the patient has enough drugs to last the length of the treatment or until they need another prescription or a checkup. Self-medicating puts all of this in jeopardy. Self-medication complicates dosing and can lead to complications especially in cases where the patient has a serious infection. The most dangerous thing one can do is to stop taking their drugs when they start feeling better and this leads to a terrible medication management system.
Know all your medications and keep them straight
Keeping a list of all the medication one is taking as well as when and how they should be taking these drugs forms the basis of a good medication management system. Some medications can cause drowsiness or even loss in focus and concentration and keeping medications straight can help reduce the chances of under or overdosing. If in doubt, one could ask a family member or someone close to keep their records for them.
Get into a routine
This is especially important for those taking medications for the long term. Getting into a routine helps one remember if they took their medications and takes the guesswork out of the whole process. Taking medications without a routine could cause confusion and other complications as mentioned above. Setting an alarm clock or using a pill reminder are two of the best ways to get into a good medication management routine.
Keep prescriptions up to date
Filling out prescriptions at one’s convenience instead of waiting until they run out is always a good idea. It takes out the stress of a last-minute rush and ensures one has the medication they need in case they need to travel or otherwise be unavailable.
