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BLUEMOUNTAINEAGLE.COM / 15 How to ensure medication compliance By Greg Armstrong Len’s Drug hen people become noncompliant with medication, it can lead to increased illness and death. It is estimated that noncom- pliance incurs costs of approx- imately $100 billion annually. In fact, increasing compliance of existing medication ther- apy may have a greater effect on health than changing or improving a specific medica- tion therapy. Just over 50% of all patients Eagle file photo taking medication are not com- Len’s Drug Pharmacy Technician Rori Leighton, left, and pliant with the way in which it Pharmacy Manager Tilli Bjornberg work in the John Day was prescribed. That is a lot of pharmacy. noncompliance. Of all medica- tion-related hospitalizations, at least one-third, and up to two- thirds, are related to poor medi- cation 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 system often has too many moving parts to make consistent medication The Eagle/Rudy Diaz compliance feasible. Even with all components working in the Len’s Drug pharmacists Greg Armstrong, left, and Carl Amstad patient’s best interest, there can have more than 85 years of experience between them and have been recognized as Veterans in Pharmacy. be breakdowns. Your pharmacy team at Len’s Drug is committed to patients, we do not want to be a makes it easier to ensure that helping in whatever way we stumbling block to their medi- all medications for each dosing can to increase medication cation compliance. time are administered. Our pharmacy team will compliance. We have several Even with some effec- programs that can help you and call the patient five to seven tive ways to increase medica- your loved ones increase their days ahead of time to make tion compliance, we can never compliance and, thus, decrease sure there have not been any underestimate the effectiveness their potential adverse effects changes in their medication of contacting the pharmacy a list. We contact the doctor to minimum of three days prior from noncompliance. Refills Made Simple: This obtain needed refills, and we to needing your refill. With program strives to synchronize make sure we have the neces- the moving parts of the health all the patient’s chronic or main- sary quantity of medication, care system, this extra time can tenance medications to be filled which all leads to one trip to be very necessary to prevent a at the same time each month, the pharmacy and increased break in therapy. or every three months for plans compliance. Most importantly, the phar- that allow a 90-day supply. One Salad Packs: These salad macy team at Len’s Drug is factor that often adds to medica- packs are named because we always available to answer tion noncompliance is an exces- are placing all the patient’s your questions and assist you sive number of trips to the phar- medications for a particular with improving your medica- macy. While we love seeing our dosing time in one blister. This tion compliance. W 10 TIPS FOR MEDICATION COMPLIANCE The Center for Drug and Health Infor- mation Services, 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 medi- cation 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 medica- tion you have to take and the times you should take them. Check off each dose after it is taken. This will help to avoid missed or double doses. 4. Use a beeping alarm. Use a beeping watch or timer to remind you when a dose is due. 5. Put dosage times into your daily planner. Just like an appointment, add your medication doses into your daily plan- ner to remind you when a dose is due. 6. Plan ahead for traveling, refills and weekends. Pack your medications and keep them with you when traveling. Keep in mind that your schedule may change while on vacation, and you will need to adjust how you take your medication. Also, plan ahead for your refills. Don’t wait until you are out to call your pharmacy to order a refill. Give the pharmacy a minimum of two to three days to get your refills ready. 7. Arrange for privacy. If you want to hide the fact you take medication, arrange for some private time at work when you can take your medication. Scout out a place such as a bathroom where you can take your medication in private. 8. Keep a diary. Write down successes as well as failures to remind you what has worked and what has not. Record missed doses to identify times or doses that need to be worked on to improve medication compliance. 9. Establish and use a support network. Find friends or family that can assist you in taking your medication. Local “buddy lines” can help with remind- ers and serve as a partner in therapy. Realizing others are struggling as you are can help with feelings of isolation. Develop a working relationship with your health care time (doctor, pharma- cist and caregiver). 10. Leave yourself notes and reminders. Leave notes around the house where you will be sure to see them: the re- frigerator next to the TV, the bathroom mirror.
