To help make sure patients stay safe when taking medications, there are some important strategies that can be used:
Check Patient History: Always look at a patient’s medication history. This includes both prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as vitamins and supplements. For example, something like St. John's Wort can make certain antidepressants less effective.
Review Medications: Regularly go over a patient’s medications, especially when they move from one doctor to another or leave a hospital. This can help prevent giving them the same medication twice or missing an important one.
Use Helpful Tools: Use systems that can help doctors see if there are any risky drug interactions. For instance, if a doctor prescribes a pain reliever, the system can warn them if it might be unsafe with the blood thinners the patient is already taking.
Educate Patients: Teach patients about possible side effects of their medicines. Encourage them to let their doctors know if they notice anything unusual.
By following these steps, healthcare providers can lower the chances of bad reactions to medications and keep patients safer.
To help make sure patients stay safe when taking medications, there are some important strategies that can be used:
Check Patient History: Always look at a patient’s medication history. This includes both prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as vitamins and supplements. For example, something like St. John's Wort can make certain antidepressants less effective.
Review Medications: Regularly go over a patient’s medications, especially when they move from one doctor to another or leave a hospital. This can help prevent giving them the same medication twice or missing an important one.
Use Helpful Tools: Use systems that can help doctors see if there are any risky drug interactions. For instance, if a doctor prescribes a pain reliever, the system can warn them if it might be unsafe with the blood thinners the patient is already taking.
Educate Patients: Teach patients about possible side effects of their medicines. Encourage them to let their doctors know if they notice anything unusual.
By following these steps, healthcare providers can lower the chances of bad reactions to medications and keep patients safer.