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Using The MED Card to Improve Your Medication Safety

Using The MED Card to Improve Your Medication Safety. A Guide for Patients from the Utah Hospitals and Health Systems Association (UHA). Scenario. You are rushed to the hospital after a car accident You cannot recall your medicine names or doses

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Using The MED Card to Improve Your Medication Safety

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  1. Using The MED Card to Improve Your Medication Safety A Guide for Patients from the Utah Hospitals and Health Systems Association (UHA)

  2. Scenario • You are rushed to the hospital after a car accident • You cannot recall your medicine names or doses • The only item available to the emergency room staff is your wallet • What could potentially save your life? • The MED Card!

  3. The MED Card • A handy way to write your medication list on one paper or card to keep with you • Available at many Utah hospitals and clinics • Helps medical staff to prescribe the best and safest medicines for you • Gives you a chance to discuss your medications with the professionals

  4. What is The MED Card? • Side One: • Primary physician with contact info • Pharmacy with contact info • Allergies • Health problems • Vaccines • Side Two: • Medication list (with how much and how often) • Reminders to include nonprescription and herbals

  5. Help Your Health Providers • Keep the MED Card or other medication list in your wallet or purse at all times • Keep your medication list current • Include contact numbers for your doctors and pharmacies • Know your medications and why you take them!

  6. Be Thorough • Include prescription, non-prescription, and herbal medications • For each medicine, write down the name, dose, and how often you take it • Example: • Lisinopril 20 mg tablet once daily by mouth for blood pressure • Keep 2 MED Cards if your list is long

  7. Ask Questions • Ask for help completing your MED Card • If unsure of how to take a medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist • If a new prescription or refill doesn’t match the list, ask why • Ask questions until it is clear which medications you should take, how often and why

  8. Other Helpful Information • The MED Card has space for other health information • Personal information • Supplements like vitamins • Habits like smoking or drinking alcohol • Vaccines like the flu shot • Organ donor preferences

  9. MED Card Resources • Your health providers can help • The MED Card online: • www.uha-utah.org/patientsafety/medication/ MedRec.htm • The MED Card is available at local hospitals, clinics and pharmacies

  10. Questions and Discussion

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