The Core Directives in Medication Management
Be Inquisitive. Be Empathetic.
These two simple directives are at the core of our medication management interactions with patients. In fact, when we have third and fourth year pharmacy students at Howe Sound Pharmacy, our preceptors help guide them with these two ideas in mind.
The ability to help patients adhere to their medications is based on respect and an understanding of the patients wants and needs. We know that 75% of patient non-adherence is intentional! That’s right, almost eight out of 10 cases of non-adherence are conscious choices by patients to avoid taking their chronic medications.
The Trouble with “Minny”
One of our dear patients, let’s call her Minny, had a mild stroke last year. Understandably she was shocked and upset after she returned from the hospital. Against her initial reaction, I gently urged Minny to let us blister pack her new discharge medications. She held the belief, that only the old and sick need to have their medications in blister packs.
Minny is over 80, but she does not see herself as old. I held her hand and said that I was very concerned for her health and only wanted the best for her. So she trusted my judgement and agreed to let us compliance pack her medications for her. It has now been a year and Minny is doing amazingly well.
Identifying What is Important
Last month, when Minny picked up her blister packs, we had scheduled a short appointment to review how she was doing. Her first words were “Do I still have to take all this crap?!” We had a short talk on how well she has done since her stroke and discussed the risk factors if she stopped taking all of her medications. As we talked, I asked about what was important in Minny’s life. Taking her dog for a walk twice a day, being able to visit family and friends and still to live independently at home with her husband were all priorities to her. So, she was quick to understand what was at risk if she stopped adhering to her medications. She left me with the agreement that she would continue to take them all as prescribed.
We Serve Many People Like “Minny”
I serve many people like Minny, so I knew after she left, that we will probably have this conversation again. And that’s OK. Adherence to medications is a collaboration between patient and pharmacist. If I’m lucky enough to continue to enjoy Minny’s trust by staying inquisitive and empathetic, it will be a lifelong journey that both of us will travel together.
What do you think about this story from the front lines of the pharmacy? Can you see the power of being inquisitive and empathetic with patients? For more medication management stories and strategies, please connect with us to learn more about how you can create positive change in your pharmacy and provide better patient care.
