Work in Partnership With Your Health Professional to Prevent Medical Errors

Prevent Medication Errors

Make sure that all of your health professionals know about everything you are taking. This includes prescription and nonprescription medicines as well as dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs. At least once a year, bring all of your medicines and supplements with you to your health professional. "Brown bagging" your medicines can help you talk to your health professional about them and find out if there are any problems. It can also help your health professional keep your records up to date, which can help you get better quality care.

Make sure your health professional knows about your allergies and about adverse reactions you have had to any medicine. This can help you avoid getting a medicine that might harm you.

When your health professional writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it. If you can't read the handwriting on the prescription, your pharmacist might not be able to, either.

Ask for information about your medicine in terms you can understand. Do this both when your medicines are prescribed and when you receive them. It is okay to ask questions and to expect answers that you can understand. Ask questions such as:

• What is the medicine for?
• How am I supposed to take it and for how long?
• What side effects are likely? What should I do if side effects occur?
• Is this medicine safe to take with the other medicines or dietary supplements I am taking?
• What foods, drinks, or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine?
• What am I supposed to do if I miss a dose?

Take your medicine exactly as your health professional says. Make sure you understand exactly how your health professional wants you to take your medicine. For example, are you supposed to take it for only a short time then stop, or is this medicine you will always need to take.

Stay in touch with your health professional if you are prescribed pain medicine. It is important for your doctor to know how well your new pain medicine is working. If your pain is not controlled by the medicine, do not take it more often or in larger amounts. Talk to your doctor first.

When you pick up your medicines from the pharmacy, ask the pharmacist if this is the medicine that your health professional prescribed. It is important to make sure you have the correct medicine, at the correct dose. If you are refilling an existing prescription, and the size, shape, or color of the pills seems different than before, check to make sure you have received the right medicine. When you get your medicine, read the label, including any warnings. If the medicine looks different than you expected, ask the pharmacist about it.

If you have any questions about the directions on the medicine label, ask for clarification. Medicine labels can be hard to understand. For example, ask if "4 doses daily" means taking a dose every 6 hours around the clock or just during regular waking hours.

Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure liquid medicines. Also ask for advice if you're not sure how to use the medicine. Research shows that many people do not understand the right way to measure liquid medicines. For example, many people use household teaspoons, which often do not hold a true teaspoon of liquid. Special devices, like marked syringes, help people measure the right dose, but being told how to use the device helps even more.

Ask for written information about the side effects your medicines could cause. If you know what might happen, you will be better prepared if it does or if something unexpected happens instead. You can report the problem right away and get help before it gets worse. Written information about medicines can help patients recognize problem side effects and then give that information to their health professional or pharmacist.

If you experience side effects that seem severe or unexpected, report them to your health professional. Many people who experience medicine-related symptoms do not report them to their doctors. Your health professional may be able to adjust the dose of medicine to reduce or eliminate side effects or give you a different medicine that works better for you.

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Author:	Sabra L. Katz-Wise Ralph Poore	Last Updated: October 2, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
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