Willett Watch

This blue booklet could save your life

I would like to tell you a story that may strike a familiar chord. Recently my mother was admitted to her local hospital near Orangeville. It turned out that her healthcare crisis was due to a mix up in her medications. Following the ER doctor's advice that she no longer live alone and fend for herself, she applied and was accepted at a long term care facility.

In the few days prior to moving in, she stayed with my brother. During that time, I got a panicked call from my brother telling me that he couldn't figure out what drugs to give her and when. Among her list of over 20 daily medications, she had no idea what was prescribed recently in the hospital and which medications her doctor had ordered previously. Although my brother did his best until the home care nurse arrived, I suspect that it was pretty much guesswork on his part.

However, once my mother entered the senior's villa and we handed her pills over to a knowledgeable staff nurse, a minor miracle took place. My mother's health problems practically disappeared and she is now looking better than she has for years. We suspect that it was mostly due to proper dosage and combinations of medications.

This incident brought home to me the importance of the work the Brant Community Healthcare System has been involved in through being a partner in the Brant Seamless Care Network. In an effort to reduce medication errors (an estimated 25% of emergency admissions from seniors are medication related) this group has decided to promote a blue booklet called a medication record. This “low-tech” solution allows patients to present this small booklet to their pharmacist each time and the pharmacy continues to keep the booklet up to date.

The booklet is provided free-of-charge by RX&D, Canada 's research based pharmaceutical companies. It comes with a brochure entitled, “Knowledge is the best medicine”. The brochure and booklet can be ordered for free at 1-800-363-0203 or picked up by seniors at most local pharmacies.

As part of the launch of this new Brant County initiative, MPP, Dave Levac, was invited to say a few words. He mentioned his mother's experience as well. It seems that seniors are often the victims of medication errors. This doesn't come as any surprise considering that they make up 12 % of the population but are on the receiving end of 40% of all medications prescribed.

Although the pharmacist will attempt to provide a complete list of current medications, there are some things you can help them with.

•  Tell them about all of the medications you are taking. This also means non-prescription and herbal remedies. These can interact with others and change the way they work.

•  Remember that alcohol will often affect the medications that you are taking. Find out how.

•  Take your medication exactly as directed. If you forget to take your medication, don't double the next dose.

•  Don't save a prescription for future use unless your doctor tells you to.

•  Patients who come to get their prescriptions renewed at the Willett Urgent Care Centre will likely have to wait until they see their family doctor who prescribed it originally. Without a complete medical history, the Urgent Care Physician can't make an informed decision.

In the healthcare system we often talk about the care team. One of the most important members of the care team is you. By making sure that your blue, Medication Record is kept up to date by your pharmacist, you can do your part in contributing to your own health care.

Peter Muir is a communications specialist with Community Relations at the Brant Community Healthcare System. Brantford General is a regional health centre providing primary, emergency and specialized services. The Willett provides urgent care, primary and community outreach services.