The role of medication management in the homecare sector
The harm caused by medication errors has been identified as a global concern in light of the increasing complexity of healthcare requirements and the introduction of numerous new medications. Between 2017 and 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) intends to halve the rate of severe preventable injury caused by medication errors at any stage of the process, including prescribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring.
More than 237 million medication errors occur in England every year, according to the BMJ Quality and Safety Journal. The avoidable consequence of this error costs the NHS over £98 million and more than 1,700 lives annually. Their research also indicates that medication errors occur at each stage of the process, with over half (54%) occurring at the point of administration, approximately one-fifth (21%) occurring during prescribing, and sixteen percent occurring during dispensing.
Medication management can be complicated, especially when you are taking several prescription drugs that treat different conditions. In this article, we will be looking into what medicines management is, its importance, and other aspects.
What is medicines management?
Medicines management is a service intended to help patients manage prescription medication schedules, symptoms, and changes. It's a guided approach to taking medications, which provides numerous benefits, especially in the mental health field. Medication management begins with discussing the medical history and history of medications. Then, determine the proper medicines and when they will be taken. Also, addressing any issues with symptoms or adverse reactions while a patient is taking prescribed medication.
Importance of medicine management
Typically, patients are given a prescription based on which they take the medicines. However, they might not understand how and when they need to take it or the importance of medicine management in their care. In such cases, patients are more likely to misuse medicines and take them at the wrong time, which can lead to dangerous adverse reactions or side effects.
Medication management helps patients take the right medicines at the right time and in the right dosage. Furthermore, it allows for the careful supervision of a doctor, which allows for the identification of negative side effects or reactions. thus allowing for a more thorough, efficient, and successful way to utilise medicines for various illnesses.
How does medicines management work?
The first stage of medication management is when a doctor takes a look at your medication history. This will help them determine whether or not medicines may have been effective previously or if you have had any adverse reactions or effects in the past. Furthermore, medicines management helps identify if the medication a patient is currently taking is necessary and safe for use. Finally, your doctor will decide whether you should take your medication on a regular schedule and the correct dosage for each of your medications. They also provide support in case you have any queries or concerns about your medicines.
When used properly, medicines can prevent and even heal illness while also improving a person's health and well-being. However, the positive side of medicine can be highly risky if not used properly.
How is medicine management used in homecare services by carers?
Carers play a key role in assisting people to obtain the maximum benefit from their medicines safely and conveniently in the comfort of their homes. Carers who are experts in medication can provide the right support to each person in their unique circumstances. They do this by following certain steps, which include:
1. Assessment:
Carers who provide assistance with medication management do so after conducting a comprehensive assessment to determine the person's requirements.
2. Educating:
Carers play a vital role in educating people about the medications they are taking, the dosage, and the timing of administration.
3. Monitoring:
The main goal of medication management at home is to encourage and maintain independence through self-administration of medicines where possible. Carers can monitor the administration of medicines and determine if there is any error.
4. Interventions:
Professional carers can provide advice to patients and family carers on practical ways of scheduling, planning, and administering medication as independently as possible.
5. Communication and referrals:
In cases where issues arise related to medications, carers can consult doctors and specialists to optimise medicine use.
Medication review in nursing: providers' role
It is often difficult to persuade patients to provide complete information about their home medications, as many do not know the correct instructions for their medicines. While some others are not willing to disclose their medication information to their care providers. However, carers are responsible for obtaining the complete medication history of the patient along with their current list of medicines.
In addition to completing a medication reconciliation based on clinical symptoms and treatment plans, providers also complete a medication reconciliation. Medication reconciliation requires medication review and validation for continuation or discontinuation. Therefore, providers decide what medicines to order and discontinue during the entire length of the stay. This method advances the most effective medication management strategies in nursing.
Providers are responsible for approving the use of home medications along with other substitutions. Doctors often mention medication plans in their administration notes to maintain transparency. The providers also perform medication reconciliation prior to each patient's discharge and during outpatient visits. A complete medication order must also specify the correct patient, medications, dosage, frequency, time, indication, response, and route.
Medicines support from a homecare provider in the UK
Medicines support is what enables a person to manage their medicines. In practical terms, this includes:
1. Promoting or reminding people to take their medicines on time
2. Helping people remove medicines from packaging
3. Administering some or all of a patient's medicines
While providing homecare medicines support, care providers in the UK and carers should first and foremost assess medicine support needs.
Assessing medicines support needs
As a care provider, you should assess what medication support a person requires as part of the general assessment. The outcome of such an assessment must be recorded in the care plan. Here are the details that need to be recorded when a person requires medication support:
1. The person's needs and preferences
2. The person's expectation for confidentiality and advance care planning
3. How you will seek consent
4. Details of who to contact about their medicines—this can be the person needing support or the contact they choose.
5. What support do they need for each medicine?
6. How the medicines support will be given
7. When the medication support will be reviewed, for example, within weeks, on a monthly basis, etc.
Other important points:
1. Staff who assess people's medication support need to be trained and competent to do so.
2. Only take responsibility for people's medicines where the assessment indicates there is a need.
Errors in medication management are one of the most dangerous situations, as they can have drastic outcomes and even become life-threatening to the patient. Understanding this factor, Nurses Group Homecare, UK, takes precautionary measures and, in adherence to the guidance of the CQC, offers staff training and competency for providing medication support to our clients.