Medication Plan 4.0
Aging grows along with increased concious about health. The list of troubles might be named high blood pressure, reduced mobility, cancer, dementia or a combination of serveral chronical diseases. A certain level of limitations are accepted as part of the ageing process. But it is up to us how prepared we are in our daily routine to face these health challanges. It often starts with a regular intake of medications after the primary diagnosis of a disease. The longer our medical history gets, the more pharmaceuticals are prescribed. They are supposed to bring healing, restore our performance and increase wellbeing. But how to keep track of our medication plan; especially with increasing complexity? Confusion and mistakes can have dangerous consequences, which make up a significant part of admissions to the ER. A correct intake must be ensured, because a deviation from the plan can be dangerous and may lead to drug cocktails with unpredictable consequences. In the worst case, this can lead to permanent need for care or death. It is also a fact that every fourth person is prescribed too many pills. This is enough evidence that actions have to be taken. Avoidable hospital referrals contribute to increase the overall stress on our health system. There is a yearly increase of hospital costs in almost every country.
One important step towards improvements is the introduction of the standardized medication plan, as implemented in some national E-Health Acts. Recently the classical paper form of the medication plan also became accessable on the electronic health/insurance cards. A big progress for patient safety and efficiency within the health system. This electronic medication plan simplifies the access to the treatment concept for care givers involved in helping the patients asking for advise, dignostics, therapy or during an emergency situation. Treating doctors or consulting pharmacists can enter information about the reason for taking the drug, the quantity and whether the drug should be taken for a limited period of time. This ensures a quality base of important information for health specialists. The aim is to support the correct intake of medication. This reduces errors in treatment plans and false intakes. In order to achieve this goal, the medication plan must be constantly adapted to the state of health. Both the treatment and the health condition are interdependent. This is why the medication plan and the health data collected by the patient himself must come together at one place.
Especially, as patients finding ways to take more responsibility for their wellbeing. We should support this development with solutions that make it easy to take care and be cared. Their solution is close at hand.