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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2016)
MEDICATION COMPLIANCE It is a good thing By Greg Armstrong Len’s Drug Pharmacist Compliant. Compliance. Words we use in positive situations. When the opposite is true, then we have a negative situation. At franchises such as Subway, they must be in compliance with all the franchise rules of the Subway corporation. This keeps them in a positive and successful situation while serving food. We often refer to our kids as being compli- ant or noncompliant. We have some of each, but we call the noncompliant strong-willed and we call the compliant, Dr Tilli. Compliance in medication therapy is also a positive situation. When people become noncompliant with medication, it can lead to increased illness and death. It is estimated that noncompliance incurs costs of approximately $100 billion annual- ly. In fact, increasing compliance of existing medication therapy may have a greater effect on health than changing or improving a spe- FL¿FPHGLFDWLRQWKHUDS\ Just over 50 percent of all patients taking medication are not compliant with the way in which it was prescribed. That is a bunch of noncompliance. Of all medication related hospitalizations, at least one-third, and up to two-thirds, are related to poor medication compliance. On one hand, not all of the blame can land on the patient alone. The entire health care system can have positive and negative impacts on medication compliance. The sys- tem often has too many moving parts to make consistent medication compliance feasible. Even with all components working with the patient’s best interest, there can be break- downs. The Center for Drug and Health Informa- tion Services, or HUCOP, offers these 10 tips for increased medication compliance. 1. Integrate the medication schedule into your daily life. Fit the medication into your life instead of structuring your life around your medication. 2. Count out your doses in advance. Use a pill box to prepare your medication a week or even two weeks in advance. Note, some medications need to be refrigerated. If that is the case, keep the pill boxes in the refrigerator or a cool place. 3. Keep a checklist. Make a daily checklist of the medication will be sure to see them: the refrigerator, next to the TV, and the bathroom mirror. Your pharmacy team at Len’s Drug is com- mitted to helping in whatever way we can to in- crease medication compliance. We have several programs that can help you and your loved ones increase their compliance and thus decrease their potential adverse effects from noncompli- ance. 5H¿OOV 0DGH 6LPSOH506 7KLV SURJUDP Contributed photo strives to synchronize all the patients chronic Greg Armstrong, Len’s Drug RUPDLQWHQDQFHPHGLFDWLRQVWREH¿OOHGDWWKH pharmacist. same time each month, or every three months for plans that allow a 90 day supply. you have to take and the times you should take One factor that often adds to medication them. Check off each dose after it is taken. This noncompliance is an excessive number of trips will help to avoid missed or double doses. to the pharmacy. While we love seeing our pa- 4. Use a beeping alarm. tients, we do not want to be a stumbling block to Use a beeping watch or timer to remind you their medication compliance. when a dose is due. 2XUSKDUPDF\WHDPZLOOFDOOWKHSDWLHQW¿YH 5. Put dosage times into your daily plan- to seven days ahead of time to make sure there ner. have not been any changes in their medication Just like an appointment, add your medica- list. We contact the doctor to obtain needed re- tion doses into your daily planner to remind you ¿OOVDQGZHPDNHVXUHZHKDYHWKHQHFHVVDU\ when a dose is due. quantity of medication, which all leads to one . Plan ahead for traveling re¿lls and trip to the pharmacy and increased medication weekends. compliance. Pack your medications and keep them with Salad Packs: No, I am not back on Subway you when traveling. Keep in mind that your again; these salad packs are named because we schedule may change while on vacation and are placing all the patient’s medications for a you will need to adjust how you take your med- particular dosing time in one blister. This makes LFDWLRQ$OVRSODQDKHDGIRU\RXUUH¿OOV'RQ¶W it easier to ensure that all medications for each wait until you are out to call your pharmacy to dosing time are administered. RUGHUDUH¿OO*LYHWKHSKDUPDF\DPLQLPXPRI Here is an example: Bugs B. Bunny takes WZRWRWKUHHGD\VWRJHW\RXUUH¿OOVUHDG\ six different medications. Three, he takes once a 7. Arrange for privacy. day; two he takes twice a day; and one, he takes If you want to hide the fact you take med- four times a day. ication, arrange for some private time at work With the salad pack we would load the when you can take your medication. Scout out morning blister with all six medications, the a place such as a bathroom where you can take noon dose with one medication, the evening your medication in private. slot with three medications and the bedtime 8. Keep a diary. slot with one medication. This not only sim- Write down successes as well as failures to SOL¿HVWDNLQJWKHPHGLFDWLRQVEXWLWLPPHGL- remind you what has worked and what has not. DWHO\LGHQWL¿HVDQ\PLVVHGGRVHVRUQRQFRP- Record missed doses to identify times or doses pliance. that need to be worked on to improve medica- Even with some effective ways to in- tion compliance. crease medication compliance, we can nev- 9. Establish and use a support network. er underestimate the effectiveness of con- Find friends or family that can assist you in tacting the pharmacy a minimum of three taking your medication. Local “buddy lines” days prior to needing your refill. With the can help with reminders and serve as a partner moving parts of the health care system, this in therapy. Realizing others are struggling as extra time can be very necessary to prevent you are can help with feelings of isolation. De- a break in therapy. velop a working relationship with your health- Most importantly, the pharmacy team care team (doctor, pharmacist and caregiver). at Len’s Drug is always available to answer 10. Leave yourself notes and reminders. your questions and assist you with improving Leave notes around the house where you your medication compliance. FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE 2016 || 19
