Using The MED Card to Improve Your Medication Safety

Using The MED Card to Improve Your Medication Safety A Guide for Patients from the Utah Hospitals and Health Systems Association (UHA)

Scenario • You are rushed to the hospital after a car accident • You cannot recall your medicine names or doses • The only item available to the emergency room staff is your wallet • What could potentially save your life? • The MED Card!

The MED Card • A handy way to write your medication list on one paper or card to keep with you • Available at many Utah hospitals and clinics • Helps medical staff to prescribe the best and safest medicines for you • Gives you a chance to discuss your medications with the professionals

What is The MED Card? • Side One: • Primary physician with contact info • Pharmacy with contact info • Allergies • Health problems • Vaccines • Side Two: • Medication list (with how much and how often) • Reminders to include nonprescription and herbals

Help Your Health Providers • Keep the MED Card or other medication list in your wallet or purse at all times • Keep your medication list current • Include contact numbers for your doctors and pharmacies • Know your medications and why you take them!

Be Thorough • Include prescription, non-prescription, and herbal medications • For each medicine, write down the name, dose, and how often you take it • Example: • Lisinopril 20 mg tablet once daily by mouth for blood pressure • Keep 2 MED Cards if your list is long

Ask Questions • Ask for help completing your MED Card • If unsure of how to take a medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist • If a new prescription or refill doesn’t match the list, ask why • Ask questions until it is clear which medications you should take, how often and why

Other Helpful Information • The MED Card has space for other health information • Personal information • Supplements like vitamins • Habits like smoking or drinking alcohol • Vaccines like the flu shot • Organ donor preferences

MED Card Resources • Your health providers can help • The MED Card online: • www.uha-utah.org/patientsafety/medication/ MedRec.htm • The MED Card is available at local hospitals, clinics and pharmacies

Questions and Discussion

Using The MED Card to Improve Your Medication Safety

Using The MED Card to Improve Your Medication Safety

Presentation Transcript

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