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Ideas for Observing "Talk About Prescriptions" Month
"Your Medicine Information: Read It and Heed It" |
- Consumers (and caregivers), label a large envelope or pocket-folder with "Medicine Information." Keep this in a handy place. Whenever you get a new prescription, read very carefully and save the written information that comes with it. Then, put your medicine information sheets in the labeled folder. If you have questions while taking your medicine, refer back to the written information, and feel free to ask your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care professionals, too.
- Pharmacy managers, pick one day per week this month when pharmacists can offer to review with patients picking up new prescriptions the accompanying medicine information leaflet. Grab a highlighter pen, and help patients and their caregivers to "read it and heed it!" Use NCPIE's "TAP" poster to advertise the date(s) when your pharmacy will offer this service.
- Health care professionals, for patients scheduling a visit in October, invite them (in advance) to bring in the consumer medicine information leaflets for their most recently-filled prescription(s). Use the leaflet as an 'icebreaker' to determine, in conversation with your patients, any compliance-related problems.
- Is your senior center planning to host a medicine check-up day? Invite participants to bring in for review by a licensed health care professional their medicines and accompanying medicine information leaflets. Have those highlighter pens ready!
- Manufacturers and agencies planning product launches for a new product that includes supplemental patient information: include a "Read It and Heed It" tag line on your print ads, and on-line. Help patients get the most value from their medicines!
- Libraries can invite a local pharmacist or other health care professional to lead a Medicine Information Literacy Day. Patrons can bring in their medicine leaflets for review. For low-literacy patrons, this service could be lifesaving.
- Community leaders and public affairs specialists can encourage their local radio stations to air the "Read It and Heed It" public service announcements - click here to preview.
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