Wake Up Call: Stop Skipping Your Daily Medications with These Easy Tips
Nancy Davis
As a pharmacist, I fill hundreds - even thousands - of prescriptions each week. That might seem like a lot, but the truth is, I should be filling more.
Consider this: approximately 50 percent of patients with a chronic illness fails to take their daily medications as prescribed. This number is concerning, especially here in Illinois, where roughly half of the population has been diagnosed with a chronic disease.
My role in the pharmacy is one I take seriously. Pharmacists are an extension of the patient care team and, in some areas, one of the only healthcare resources available to residents. That's why Walgreens pharmacists across the nation - and here in Chicago - are issuing a Wake Up Call to residents to start a conversation about the risks associated with not taking medications as prescribed. We want to make sure our customers never miss a day of their medication.
With that in mind, we have compiled some tips to help increase prescription medication adherence and keep patients on the road to wellness.
Prepare
Pill boxes are a great way to group your medications together by time of day and ensure you don't forget a single dosage. They're also easy to transport in a purse or bag when you're on-the-go. Find one that suits your individual needs, and make sure to keep it out of extreme heat or sunlight.
Set Reminders
Whether an alarm on your phone or free tools like Walgreens Pill Reminder in the Walgreens mobile app, make sure you always know when it's time to take your medication. Research shows that patients who used pill reminders were more likely to take their medications correctly.
Simplify Refills
Streamline the refill process and eliminate unnecessary trips to the pharmacy by setting up automatic refills and switching to a 90-day supply. Also ask your pharmacist about programs that enable you to synchronize multiple prescription pickups. Walgreens' Save a Trip Refills®1 program which was recently expanded, will coordinate logistics with your doctor and insurance company.
Get Educated
Knowledge is power, and pharmacists are a fantastic resource when it comes to better understanding your medications, side effects, interactions, and risks of non-adherence. If you have a question or concern, don't be afraid to talk to your pharmacist in person, over the phone, or virtually through the Walgreens app.
Know Your Options
Walgreens has pickup and delivery options that fit any lifestyle. Patients can schedule to have their eligible medications delivered to their homes, or they can choose to prepay and pick up prescriptions in a dedicated express line in the pharmacy. We are doing whatever we can to make adherence easy for every patient we serve.
As I see it, it's my responsibility to help my patients adhere to the medications they have been prescribed by their healthcare professionals. And the first step in doing so is educating members of our community about the tools and resources available to them to remain adherent to their prescriptions and, ultimately, enjoy happier, healthier lives.
Nancy Davis is the pharmacy manager for Walgreens located at 353 Park Avenue in Glencoe, Illinois. For more information on Walgreens pharmacy services, talk to any Walgreens pharmacist or learn more online: www.walgreens.com/pharmacy.