Medication management therapy is used by pharmacists and physicians to make certain the individual is receiving the best possible outcome from their prescription medications. This term encompasses a wide variety of professional services including:
• Patient assessments
• Prescription medication reviews
• Potential side effects or interactions with other medications
• Monitoring the efficacy and safety of all plans for prescription medications
• Creating treatment plans for the present and the future
• Educating the individual regarding instructional and directional compliance
• Maintaining the best possible standard of care among the physicians and pharmacists
Medication management is the combined efforts of the medical professionals, healthcare providers and pharmacists to make certain the individual is taking all prescription medications the way they were prescribed. This helps prevent the chances of drug abuse. The individual is also educated to ensure they understand their specific medical conditions.
The Methods Used in Medication Management Therapy
The first method is collecting the specific data of the individual. This enables the pharmacist to assess the medications and reveal any potential issues. If any issues are discovered, a plan is created. There is usually a consultation with the individual involving a checklist to determine if the prescription provides the individual with the possibility of recovering from their condition or managing their condition with the lowest possible risk for side effects. This enables the pharmacist to find any more appropriate alternatives.
The medication-related action plan is referred to as MAP. This document contains the actions that should or should not be taken to track the progress of the medications for specific medical goals. A good example is an individual suffering from depression. The MAP determines if the prescription is helping with the depression and shows the best ways to deal with the condition.
The personal medication record contains a full list of all the prescription drugs the individual is currently taking and all medications taken during the recent past. This includes dietary supplements, non-prescription medications and herbal products. This enables the pharmacist to provide assistance regarding the prescription medications and make certain the chances for drug interactions and side effects are both minimal.
The follow-up and documentation contains the individuals complete medical record, steps for care, prescription medication history, unintentional side effects and previous interactions. It is important to ensure this document remains updated including when the individual’s prescriptions are changed and when they change or establish a new physician.
If you are interested in medication management, please reach out to us at Montana Psychiatry & Brain Health Center in Billings, MT. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!
