Partners in Crime: Your Pharmacist Sarah A. Spinler, PharmD, FCCP,FAHA, FASHP, BCPS (AQ Cardiology) Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Philadelphia College of Pharmacy University of the Sciences

Objectives What patients should expect from their pharmacist, physician, nurse practitioner regarding education on medications Importance of maintaining accurate list of medications and purpose Importance of adherence and that it is a partnership between healthcare provider and patient

Education About Medications Healthcare providers should provide Written and verbal instructions Generic names of all prescription and nonprescription medications Dose, Frequency, Side Effects Purpose of each medication Whether or not any monitoring is needed Kidney function blood test, potassium blood levels, drug blood levels For warfarin (Coumadin) Schedule of next INR and name of provider that will follow INR result

Education About Medications Healthcare providers should provide Importance of adherence Discuss and remove barriers Assessment of access to prescriptions Facilitate affordable access Assessment of instruction comprehension Reading level Hearing Ability to access and use internet

Education About Medications Patients should Keep a list of questions and ask them! Keep a list of medications, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, supplements and herbals Share information about allergies and intolerances Ask your healthcare provider before taking any new OTC medications, herbals or supplements Ask your provider to write the purpose of the medication on the prescription

Questions to Ask About Your Medications: Educate before you medicate What is the medications name and how do I take it? Why did you chose this medication for me? What are the side effects that I should look out for and how can they be prevented? How can they be detected early? Are there any monitoring tests? Can you review my medication list and see if there are any that are unnecessary? Get a Medications Check-up at least once a year Can I stop this medication if I start to feel better? Do you have the ability to e-prescribe? Communicate the prescription electronically to the pharmacy Are there lower cost alternatives that may be right for me? Sources: National Council on Patient Information and Education, Food and Drug Administrations Tips for Taking Medicines

CardioSmart.org

Adult MEDUCATION Tools From the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and the American Society on Aging

Continued….. MEDUCATION Helpful Forms

American Pharmacists Association: Personal Medication Record (PMR) pharmacist.com

Heart Insight Magazine American Heart Association

Your Personal Medication Record Your name Your birth date Your phone number Emergency contact information (Name, relationship, phone number) Primary care physician (Name and phone number) Pharmacy/pharmacist (Name and phone number) Allergies (e.g., What allergies do I have? What happened when I had the allergy or reaction?) Other medication-related problems (e.g., What medication caused the problem? What was the problem I had?) Potential questions for patients to ask about their medications (e.g., When you are prescribed a new drug, ask your doctor or pharmacist...) Date last updated Date last reviewed by the pharmacist, physician, or other health care professional Your signature Healthcare providers signature

American Heart Association

Using Medicines Safely: FDA

Using Medications Safely Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)

Educational Materials for Older Adults

Importance of Medication Adherence About 50% of prescriptions are not taken correctly Up to 1/3 of prescriptions are never filled 10% of hospital admissions are caused by medication nonadherence 125,000 deaths annually Annual costs $290,000,000,000

Its a Team Effort Meducation.com

Let your healthcare provider know Visual problems Eyesight Color Hearing Dexterity Memory (involve a caregiver) Swallowing Others Getting to the pharmacy for refills Affording your medications

RxAssist.org

Discounted Prescriptions Whats good Walmart $4/month or $10/90 days K-Mart $10-$15/90 days Target $4/month Protect yourself! Keep your medication record and share with pharmacist if not using the same pharmacy! The lists change! Sometimes you can change too! Ask!

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