Medication management is a type of service used by healthcare providers and pharmacists to ensure that patients are taking the best medication to meet their needs. Often, healthcare providers and pharmacists work together as a team to create a medication plan for the patient that will treat his or her health conditions thoroughly in the most affordable way. These are some types of services that medication management normally includes.
Medication History and Reviews
The pharmacist can look at the medication history of the patient. He or she will see which medications the patient has been on for which conditions in the past, which medications worked in treating a specific condition, and which medications did not work and had to be substituted with another medication. He or she will also be able to learn of any allergic reactions to certain meds the patient may have had. When the pharmacist reviews this information with the healthcare provider, it will help determine which medications the patient may now need.
Medication-Related Action Plans
There may be times when the patient is mildly ill and does not need to have a doctor's visit. He or she may need advice on which over-the-counter medications he or she can take that will not affect his or her other prescription medications. The pharmacist can speak to the patient's physician, discuss the symptoms they are having, and the physician can determine if they need over-the-counter meds, prescription medication, or if it would be best for them to see the doctor. There may also be times when a patient has a repeat occurrence of a health issue they have been treated for in the past. By telling the pharmacist about it, the pharmacist can speak with the physician to determine what the plan of action will be to treat the problem again.
Intervention and Referral
If a certain medication no longer works for a patient's health condition, it may be necessary for the pharmacist to intervene. They can contact the physician to alert them of this, and they can decide together if a new medication could work better or if the patient needs to be referred to a specialist. If the patient has a change in their finances, such as losing a job or losing health insurance coverage, the pharmacist may also be able to help in this area. they can explain the situation to the physician to see if less expensive medications can be taken. The pharmacist may also be able to refer the patient to prescription discount programs that will allow the patient to get his medications at a lower price.
Medication management also includes documenting what medications the patient has taken and how well they have worked for them. Often, the pharmacist will follow up with the patient to find out if their health has improved and how satisfied they are with the treatment.
If you are interested in medication management, look into a medication management training program near you.
