What is Medication Management? Why is it Important?

Medication management is a type of outpatient treatment that includes ongoing medical monitoring pertaining to as well as the evaluation of a patient’s need for certain medications. It is an ongoing process of helping patients achieve the planned therapeutic outcome that has been outlined by their physician.

In other words, it’s a process that helps patients and their caregivers or families to understand what medication to take, when to take it, what that medication is used for and to be on the lookout for potential risks and medication interactions between the prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications, and even supplements. It can also be a way to make the medication regimen a patient is currently on more effective by eliminating missed doses or other issues that can make the medication less effective.

 

Why Use Medication Management? Why is it Important?

Medication management is especially helpful for patients who might not fully understand the way their medication can affect their overall health and well-being. Therefore, it is an essential component of ongoing patient care for individuals who struggle with their medications’ dosage, side effects, or other issues related to medication. Taking medication properly on time and consistently is immensely important as this is the way the medication is designed to work. When doses are skipped or supplements are added haphazardly, a great deal of harm can result.

 

Benefits of a Medication Management Program

There are many notable benefits of medication management programs. It can reduce stress for patients and their families as everyone involved in the patient’s care is on the same page and working towards the same goal of optimal health. It can even help save patients money as they are less likely to find themselves in need of an emergency room visit or hospital stay because their health conditions are being better managed. Let’s look at the additional benefits that patients can expect when participating in a medication management program:

• Better quality of life for older patients.
• Less money is invested in doctor’s visits, hospital stays, and emergency room visits to address a medication-related issue.
• Less stress on caregivers knowing that there is a plan for medication and a schedule to follow.

 

Tips for Managing Multiple Prescriptions

A complicated medication regimen can get confusing and lead to mistakes. Thankfully, with a medication management program, patients can ensure they take multiple medications on time and as prescribed. This usually involves some sort of dosing schedule that guides patients through the process. This is a real issue as 40% of all elderly individuals currently take more than five prescriptions a day. With that many medications, each with its own dosage specifications, it’s easy to see how mistakes could be made.

 

Who Should Use a Med Management Program?

Medication management is most useful for patients who are overwhelmed with their current medication regimen. Many times, this includes elderly patients who have to take several medications throughout the day. They can easily get confused as to when to take what or even try to reduce the amount they are taking to save money. Either way, this can seriously impact the effectiveness of the medication and can lead to serious health issues. In addition, if a patient sees multiple doctors for various issues, then medication management can help ensure they are not being overmedicated or using more than one medication to treat the same condition, needlessly.

 

Interesting in learning more about how a medication management service can benefit you, a loved one, or a patient your working with? Talk to the experts at DayaMed for help today!

 

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