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Medications can serve a vital role in your health and wellbeing but medication therapy can also be very complex. Therefore, it is important that you have an open conversation with your caregivers so that they are aware of all of the medications you are taking. This must include prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbals and other supplements or natural products. This will allow healthcare provides to manage you with the safest, most effective care possible.
Here are some things you can do:
- Bring a list of your medications with you to the hospital or to your doctor visits. If you bring your medications with you, particularly to the hospital, make sure there is someone that can take them home for you after you are admitted. Don’t worry, if that isn’t an option we can make sure they are safely stored in the Pharmacy and sent home with you upon discharge.
- Keep a list of all of your medication and food allergies or intolerances and your reactions to them.
- Whenever you are prescribed a new medication make sure your doctor or pharmacist tells you what it is for and what the most common side affects you might experience. Make sure they tell you in a way you understand. Ask questions and have a spouse, family member or friend help you.
- Look at all medications before you take them. Some may look different than those you take at home. The medication being given to you might be a generic medication, or a commonly used substitute. If you have questions, make sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- While in the hospital, do not let anyone give you any medications before scanning you and the medications each and every time. Trinity electronic system helps ensure that every medication given is the right one, for the right patient, and at the right time.
- Before you are discharged, ask the doctor, nurse or pharmacist to go over your medications with you, particularly new ones. Make sure your list is up to date when you leave the hospital.
- Always be involved with your care or have someone that is able to help you. Perhaps most importantly, ask questions and demand answers. It is your care.
