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While the advancements
of medical science are paving the way for healthy living, prescription
medications have been found to enhance the quality of life for
many people. On the contrary, many of the latest prescribed
medicines have been found to impose detrimental repercussions
when they are incorrectly taken. Recent statistics depict that
a quarter of a million medication errors are committed annually
from outpatient settings alone. These prescription
blunders may be relatively insignificant ensuing minor adverse
effects that patients are not cognizant. The worst case scenario
has run the gamut of patients taking inappropriate medication,
incorrect dosing or even not medication whatsoever.
The result of prescription
drug errors is largely due in part to a communication breakdown
between doctors and patients, physicians and nurses, families
and patients as well as the patient and the nurses.
Primarily, these
medication blunders are the main reasons medical questionnaires
may seem redundant. Additionally, medical experts recommend
patients to pose innumerous questions to the medical provider.
In an effort to streamline and reduce the number of medication
errors, a medicine safety checklist has been developed by the
US government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
At the same token,
many patients are reluctant to ask several questions regarding
their medication because, healthcare professionals have a limited
span of time to attend to their patients. Quite often, patients
have question subsequent to the medical visit; however, determining
who to contact is not clearly defined.
One of the easiest
ways to circumvent prescription errors is by bringing all medications
to your doctor’s appointment. It’s effective because many times
physicians are unaware of all the medicines a patient using.
The medications should not be limited to prescribed drugs. Both
over the counter medicines and herbal supplements that are taken
on a regular basis should be brought to the examination room,
as well.
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