Baptist Health Offers Simple Way to Improve Medication Safety
Free Printable Medication Wallet Cards Are Available Online

Jacksonville, Florida, September 26, 2007 -- Medicine mistakes and adverse interactions can happen anywhere: in the home, a doctor's office or in the hospital. While they are a serious problem throughout the country, public awareness is an important step in improving safety.

To help the community reduce possible medication errors, Baptist Health is making Medication Wallet Cards available free online at www.e-baptisthealth.com/medication. For individuals without internet access, please call 202.CARE (2273) for a card.

The card allows individuals to list their over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin, vitamins, herbs, diet supplements, natural remedies; the prescription medicines and medicines they only take as needed; dosages and frequency. This card is helpful to doctors, pharmacists, emergency department caregivers and others involved with a patient's health care.

"Dietary supplements, herbal products and natural remedies are not FDA-regulated products like prescription medications," explains pharmacist Nicole Blackwelder, PharmD, co-chairman of Baptist Health's Medical Reconciliation Team. "They may contain contaminants or other ingredients that interact with your medications, or cause adverse effects themselves. Several herbal products are known to interact with some of our more common, high-risk medications. It is very important that your health care provider has a complete list of all medications and products you are taking."

Here are some other tips Baptist Health and the Joint Commission offer to reduce medication problems.

Make sure you can read the handwriting on the prescription. If you can't read it, the pharmacist may not be able to read it either. You can ask to have the prescription printed.

Read the label. Make sure it has your name on it and the right medicine name.

Make sure that you understand all of the instructions for your medicines.

If you have doubts about a medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or caregiver about it.

Questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist

How will this new medicine help you?

Are there other names for this medicine? For example, does it have a brand or generic name?

Is there any written information about the medicine?

Can you take this medicine with your allergy? Remind your doctor about your allergies and any reactions you have had to medicines.

Is it safe to take this medicine with your other medicines? Is it safe to take it with your vitamins, herbs and supplements?

Are there any side effects of the medicine? For example, could it cause an upset stomach? Who can you call if you have side effects or a bad reaction? Can he or she be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week?

Are there specific instructions for your medicines? For example, are there any foods or drinks you should avoid while taking them?

Can you stop taking medicine as soon as you feel better? Or do you need to take it until it's gone?

Do you need to swallow or chew the medicine? Can you cut or crush it if you need to?

Is it safe to drink alcohol with the medicine?