Using The MED Card to Improve Your Medication Safety

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Using The MED Card to Improve Your Medication
Safety

• A Guide for Patients
• from the
• Utah Hospitals and Health Systems Association
  (UHA)

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Scenario

• You are rushed to the hospital after a car
  accident
• You cannot recall your medicine names or doses
• The only item available to the emergency room
  staff is your wallet
• What could potentially save your life?
• The MED Card!

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The MED Card

• A handy way to write your medication list on one
  paper or card to keep with you
• Available at many Utah hospitals and clinics
• Helps medical staff to prescribe the best and
  safest medicines for you
• Gives you a chance to discuss your medications
  with the professionals

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What is The MED Card?

• Side One
• Primary physician with contact info
• Pharmacy with contact info
• Allergies
• Health problems
• Vaccines
• Side Two
• Medication list (with how much and how often)
• Reminders to include nonprescription and herbals

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Help Your Health Providers

• Keep the MED Card or other medication list in
  your wallet or purse at all times
• Keep your medication list current
• Include contact numbers for your doctors and
  pharmacies
• Know your medications and why you take them!

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Be Thorough

• Include prescription, non-prescription, and
  herbal medications
• For each medicine, write down the name, dose, and
  how often you take it
• Example
• Lisinopril 20 mg tablet once daily by mouth for
  blood pressure
• Keep 2 MED Cards if your list is long

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Ask Questions

• Ask for help completing your MED Card
• If unsure of how to take a medication, ask your
  doctor or pharmacist
• If a new prescription or refill doesnt match the
  list, ask why
• Ask questions until it is clear which medications
  you should take, how often and why

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Other Helpful Information

• The MED Card has space for other health
  information
• Personal information
• Supplements like vitamins
• Habits like smoking or drinking alcohol
• Vaccines like the flu shot
• Organ donor preferences

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MED Card Resources

• Your health providers can help
• The MED Card online
• www.uha-utah.org/patientsafety/medication/
  MedRec.htm
• The MED Card is available at local hospitals,
  clinics and pharmacies

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Questions and Discussion