Teach Patient Safety 101: Carry a medication list
Medication errors continue to kill more than 7,000 Americans each year. Approximately 82% of adults and more than half of the children in the United States take at least one medicine daily, yet many people don't remember the names of their drugs, what they are for or how often they are taken. Since many drugs with the same active ingredients have different formulations — immediate or delayed release — these can also lead to dosing errors when someone presents at the physician's office.
- Encourage patients to keep a complete and updated list of medications and dosages. This is helpful if patients use drugs prescribed by different doctors and filled at various pharmacies.
- Encourage patients to include a list of allergies to medicines and foods.
- Urge patients to include over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements.
Washington Patient Safety Coalition, December 2009
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