Personal Medication Record Campaigns Get Underway
 

Do you carry a written list with you everywhere you go? I don't, but I do have it in an Excel file that I print when I go to a doctor or I travel.


Personal Medication Record Campaigns Get Underway

01 Sep 2007

Efforts to encourage patients to create a personal list of currently used medications illustrate that it can be difficult to get people to do what they know is good for them.

"Most people are aware of the fact that it's a good idea to carry a list," said Mike D. Sanborn, corporate director of pharmacy at Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, which has conducted two informal community surveys about personal medication records.

In all, he said, about two thirds of some 250 people surveyed were taking at least one medication, but fewer than half of them kept the medication information with them on some kind of list. When participants were asked about the value of creating a medication list, Sanborn said, "their response is that they know that they should, but they don't - kind of like [saying] I know I should wear my seat belt, but I don't."

The surveys were conducted for "Educate Before You Medicate," a program sponsored by the Dallas - Fort Worth Hospital Council. The program, which began last year, provides patients with standardized forms and wallet cards on which to list current medications and other important medical information. Residents are advised to keep the records with them at all times in case of an emergency and for use during routine medical encounters.

Read full arrticle: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/80822.php

carolyn,

another idea:

you can use one of those little flash drives to copy them. we had a discussion about this on another forum here. even keep them on a keychain, so you have access in an emergancy.