New Processes Improve Patient Safety

When going to a clinic, hospital or ER, it is very likely that every patient will have to fill out multitudes of paperwork before even being admitted. Information like previous medical history, medication allergies and insurance providers are standard, and it can take up to 20 minutes just to fill out the forms, increasing wait time to see a physician.

Because of the need for frequent documentation, there is a large possibility that a patient may forget something in their medical history. They may not remember when they were admitted for a fractured ankle. They may not remember what medication they were one when they had a kidney infection three years ago. This uncertainty can lead to possible mix-ups in the medication they are prescribed or the treatment they receive in the hospital or clinic.

This is why it is important to have a primary care physician; someone who knows you and your medical history and is familiar with your past medications. But what happens if you are out of town on a weekend vacation and get injured? The primary care physician won’t be able to get your medical records to the emergency room as quickly as they need them. So how can this important information be quickly transferred from physician to physician?

Nationwide, hospitals and pharmacies are implementing programs to increase patient safety and medication adherence by strengthening communication between a patient’s key care providers, such as the pharmacist, physician and payor.

McKesson, a leading health care services provider, has launched an initiative in Wisconsin to measure the benefits and improvements in patient safety. With the initiative, patients don’t have to fill out so many forms over and over again because all care providers are aware of the patient’s medical history.

This close connection between the pharmacists, physicians, payors and patients ensures the patient receives the best and most appropriate care possible.