- Home
- » e-Newsletters
Tips to reduce medication errors in elderly patients
Pharmacy Regulation Resource, January 29, 2004
U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) created a list of tips to help the elderly and their caregivers manage their medications and reduce medication errors. Offer the following suggestions to patients and staff to educate them about preventing medication errors:
1. Check prescription labels to verify that you've received the proper medication. If possible, read back the prescription to your pharmacist or health care provider.
2. When possible, keep all medications in original containers.
3. Talk to your pharmacist or health care provider about what to do if you miss a dosage.
4. Read the patient information sheet that accompanies your medication. If you do not receive one, ask your pharmacist for the printed information about your prescription.
5. Should there be a change in the color, size, shape, or smell of your medication, notify your pharmacist immediately.
6. Do not share or take another person's medications.
7. If you have any questions or concerns about a medication, always consult your pharmacist or health care provider. Ask about any possible side effects.
8. When in the hospital, state your name before taking any medications and always offer your wrist bracelet for identification. Ask the nurse to identify each medication by name before you take it. If you do not receive your medication at its regular time during your hospital stay, ask the nurse. Remind health care providers about any allergies to certain medications and food or a health condition that could affect the use of certain medications.
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- Q/A: Volume requirement for reporting hydration services
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- Catch up on what's new with injections and infusions
- Topic: CMS, OESS post new security compliance review information, checklist
- Capturing all necessary codes for IUD insertion and removal can be challenging
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- QA:Coding multiple initial infusions
- News and briefs: Oklahoma Osteopathic Association against residency bill change
- HIPAA Q&A: Level of encryption needed for email
- OB services: Coding inside and outside of the package
- E-mailed
-
- Q/A: Volume requirement for reporting hydration services
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- Catch up on what's new with injections and infusions
- New conflicts of interest create new challenges
- Q/A. One injection code or two?
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- Q&A tackles coding questions about injections and infusions
- Joint Commission Center announces handoff communication solutions
- Inside best practice: Reduce patient falls with a stoplight
- Identify modifiable risk factors to prevent patient falls
- Searched