Patient safety week begins

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  • By 90th Medical Group
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Patient Safety Awareness Week takes place Sunday through March 8.

To honor the week, 90th Medical Group officials offer tips to help people with their health:
When visiting the clinic for an appointment, have a current list of all medications you take. This list should include prescribed medications and over-the-counter medications. Common over-the-counter medications most patients have taken are ibuprofen, acetaminophen, cold remedies, antacids, multi vitamins and herbal supplements. Any medication you can buy without a prescription is considered an over-the-counter medication.

It is important to include that list because taking over-the-counter medications along with certain prescription medications may result in adverse effects such as increased blood pressure, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver abnormalities and other types of illnesses.

Keep a medical appointment notebook. Write down any questions about a condition prior to the appointment. Use the notebook to write down symptoms and over-the-counter medications taken and how effective those medications were. Reference the notebook during a visit to be sure all questions are answered.

In addition, the health care provider can get a quick and accurate history from you. The notebook can then be used during the appointment to take notes on what the care provider tells you, and those notes can help you remember instructions. Be sure to write down the medications prescribed and what they are for. This will help with future appointments, if they are needed.

The provider should give you a slip stating how many prescriptions you will need to obtain from the pharmacy.

Rid your medicine cabinets of old or expired medications.

Obtain copies of all your healthcare records and keep them in a safe place.

Write and carry with you all of your prescription and over-the-counter medications, including doses, as well as any allergies. Pocket medication cards are available at the clinic.

During the cough and cold season, washing hands is the best way to prevent the spread of germs and viruses in the home.

(Editor's note: Sharon Francois, 90th MDG, contributed to this article.)