Medication Safety: Guidelines, Best Practices, Errors & Prevention Medicines have many uses, including treating diseases and illnesses, relieving pain, and managing symptoms of chronic conditions to improve or maintain quality of life. However, medicines can also cause adverse consequences when they are not used correctly. These consequences may range from worsening symptoms to causing further health complications. Medication safety helps prevent medicines from being prescribed, dispensed, administered, or taken incorrectly. Errors can occur at several stages of the medication-use process, including prescribing, dispensing, administering, and taking medicines. With simple habits, proper communication, and attention to safety practices, many medication errors can be prevented. Whether a person takes a single medicine occasionally or multiple medicines every day, understanding medication safety practices can help protect their health and well-being. What Is Medication Safety? Medication safety refers to the proper and careful use of medicines to reduce the risk of medication errors, harmful interactions, and adverse effects. When medicines are taken correctly, they are more likely to produce the desired health outcome. Safe medication use depends on several important factors, including: Taking the right medicine Using the correct dosage Taking medicine at the correct time Following the prescribed instructions Monitoring for potential side effects Storing medications safely Medication safety is a shared responsibility among patients, caregivers, pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Good communication between everyone involved can significantly reduce the risk of errors. Why Is Medication Safety Important? Medicines are designed to promote health, treat medical conditions, and manage symptoms. However, incorrect medication use can increase the risk of adverse effects and other complications. Using medicines incorrectly may result in: Accidental overdose Missed doses Reduced treatment effectiveness Harmful drug interactions Allergic reactions Unnecessary hospital visits Safe medication practices help patients avoid preventable mistakes and improve the likelihood that their treatment will work as intended. Common Medication Errors Medication errors can occur for many reasons. Understanding the most common mistakes can help patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals identify potential risks and take steps to prevent them. Taking the Wrong Medicine Taking the wrong medicine can happen when medication packaging looks similar or when different medicines are stored together without proper labeling. Confusing similarly named medicines can also contribute to errors. Always check the medication name before taking or administering it. Taking the Wrong Dose Taking too much or too little medicine can have serious consequences, particularly when a medication requires a specific dosage. Patients should not increase, decrease, or change their prescribed dose without consulting a healthcare professional. Missing Doses Missing doses can reduce the effectiveness of some treatments, especially when maintaining a consistent level of medicine in the body is important. Using reminders, medication schedules, or pill organizers can help patients remember to take their medicines as directed. Taking Medicines at the Wrong Time Some medicines need to be taken at specific times of the day or in relation to meals. Taking a medicine at the wrong time may affect how well it works or increase the risk of side effects. Patients should carefully follow the timing instructions provided by their healthcare professional or medication label. Taking Medicines That Should Not Be Combined Drug interactions can occur when certain medicines are taken together. Interactions can involve prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Patients should inform their healthcare professionals about everything they take before starting a new medicine. Using Medicines Beyond Their Expiry Date Expired medicines may lose their effectiveness and, depending on the product, may not be safe to use. Always check the expiry date before taking medication and dispose of expired medicines according to appropriate disposal guidance. Best Practices for Medication Safety Following a few simple habits can make medication use safer and help reduce preventable errors. Keep Your Medication List Current Maintain an up-to-date list of all medicines and health products you use. This list should include: Prescription medicines Over-the-counter medicines Vitamins Supplements Known allergies Previous reactions to medicines Keeping this information available can help healthcare professionals make better-informed decisions during routine appointments and urgent situations. Check Medication Labels Always check the medication label before taking a medicine. Pay attention to: Medication name Strength Dosage instructions Timing instructions Expiry date Storage requirements Checking the label is particularly important for people who take several medicines. Follow Instructions Exactly Take medicines according to the instructions provided by your healthcare professional or medication label. Do not change the dose, take additional doses, or stop treatment on your own unless you have been advised to do so. Even if symptoms improve, some treatments need to be continued for a specific period. If you are unsure about how or when to take a medicine, ask a healthcare professional. Use One Reliable System to Organize Medicines Organizing medicines can be particularly useful for people who take multiple medications. Helpful strategies include: Keeping medicines in clearly labeled containers Setting reminders or creating a medication schedule Separating medicines that look similar Checking medication supplies regularly Keeping instructions easily accessible A consistent system can reduce confusion and help prevent skipped or repeated doses. Store Medicines Properly Improper storage can affect the quality and effectiveness of some medicines. General medication storage practices include: Keeping medicines in a safe location Protecting medicines from excessive heat and moisture Keeping medicines out of children’s reach Storing medicines in their original containers Following any special storage instructions Because storage requirements can vary between medicines, always follow the instructions provided for the specific product. Medication Safety for Older Adults Older adults may take several medications to manage different health conditions. Taking multiple medicines can increase the possibility of medication errors, interactions, and side effects. Age-related changes in the body can also affect how certain medicines work. Potential medication-related challenges for older adults include: Changes to medication routines Increased risk of side effects Confusion about instructions Communication problems between healthcare professionals Increased risk of interactions between medicines Caregivers can support medication safety by maintaining an updated medication list, helping organize schedules, and confirming instructions with healthcare professionals when necessary. Book Your
What Is Medication Reconciliation: Process, Steps, Examples & Importance For patients that interact with multiple healthcare systems and need to take many different medications, mistimed doses and unintended medication gaps can be deadly. The determination and correction of a patient’s medication status are known as medication reconciliation. This process provides clarification of the medication order and prevents adverse medication consequences. The objective of medication reconciliation is to list a patient’s current and new orders and to reconcile any discrepancies that may exist as a result of the care that was provided. Medication reconciliation is essential to the elimination of unwanted and unintended effects. Healthcare systems must ensure that patients receive the correct medications. What Is Medication Reconciliation? Medication reconciliation involves making sure the current medications a patient is taking line up with the medications a patient is being prescribed. It only includes medications and does not include procedures or other treatments. Reconciliation also does not include previous prescriptions or medications that are no longer needed. Listed below are some of the components that may be included in medication reconciliation: Prescription medications Over the counter medications Vitamins or supplements Herbal products Dosing information Frequency Method/route of administration By identifying the current and new medications, it may be possible to resolve any discrepancy. Reconciliation of medication is necessary for the following circumstances: Patient admission to hospital Patient discharge from hospital First time or established patient visit to a different healthcare provider Movement from one department, division, or branch of a healthcare system to another Changes in the patient’s health or medical conditions Why Is Medication Reconciliation Important? Medication reconciliation is critical to avoid problems caused by issues in medication administration. Errors in medication records lead to incorrect medication, incorrect dosage, and even medication duplication. Some primary benefits include: Decrease medication errors Medication reconciliation was designed to manage situations caused by gaps in medication records. The absence of or gaps in records leads to errors that ultimately harm the patient. Increase patient safety Aligned, complete records help health care professionals avoid adverse drug interactions and orders that may cause serious harm to the patient. Avoid duplication of medication Health care professionals, as a part of health care delivery, may order similar medications and duplicate what is in the health record. Improved communication The reconciliation process of medication helps the various participants in health care delivery communicate and share the most recent information. Educates patients to self-manage It improves patient self-manageability by answering their questions about their medications. When Is Medication Reconciliation Performed? Reconciliation of Medications typically occurs when patients are in transition from one level of care to another: Hospital Admissions Healthcare staff revise the current medications when patients enter the hospital to develop an admission medication list. Transfers between Care Settings Review of medications is critical to avoid errors when patients are transferred between different healthcare facilities. Hospital Discharges Reconciliation of medications for patients prior to discharge helps to ensure they know which medications they need to continue or stop, or if dosages need to be modified. Routine Clinic Visits Review of medications lists often happens when patients attend routing clinic examinations to ensure the accuracy of the medication lists. Book Your Free Marketing Consultation The Medication Reconciliation Process The process of medication reconciliation has several steps. Each step adds to the completeness and accuracy of the individual’s medication record. Step 1: Collect a Complete Medication History Healthcare professionals collect complete data about all medications a patient takes. This includes: the name of the medication, the dose, how often it is taken, the reason for taking it, recent changes, and any allergies. This information can be collected from the patient, their caregivers, or their medical records. Step 2: Create an Accurate Medication List A complete list of medications is made which includes all prescription and over the counter medications and supplements. Step 3: Compare Medications with New Orders The new orders are compared to the current list of medications to determine if any important medications are missing, if there are any duplicates, if any medications are excessive or unnecessary, if there are any gaps in therapy, and if there are any concerning interactions. Step 4: Resolve Medication Differences Any concerning issues are resolved by ensuring appropriate dosing of each medication, discontinuing unnecessary medications, restarting important medications, and/or changing the time of administration. Step 5: Communicate the Updated Medication List Final medication lists are reviewed and explained to the patient and the healthcare team. They are also informed of any changes, the dosing instructions, and the potential side effects. Step 6: Follow Up and Review Regularly Medication reconciliation is an ongoing process. Frequent reviews help ensure accurate records of medication and improve patient safety. Examples of Medication Reconciliation Example 1: Hospital Admission An old patient comes to the hospital where he mentions that he takes many medications at home. The healthcare workers perform reconciliation and find out two medications with similar effects are taken together. While reviewing the medication list, we eliminate the unnecessary duplication. Example 2: Discharge From Hospital After surgery, a patient is given new medications. Before the patient is discharged, the list of medications was reviewed to state which of the old medications should be continued and which of the old medications should be stopped. This prevents confusion when the old medications are stopped. Example 3: New Healthcare Provider Visit A patient goes to a new doctor’s appointment where the doctor reviews the patient’s complete medication history. The provider sees two medications that have the potential for an interaction and adjustments are made to that patient’s treatment plan. Common Challenges in Medication Reconciliation While there are notable advantages to medication reconciliation, a number of issues can make its implementation arduous. Imperfect Medication Data Patients struggle to provide a complete list of medications due to a failure to remember the names or doses of medications and of any supplements. Several Medical Practitioners When patients see many different medical practitioners, their medication information is often disbursed in many different records.
What Are Medication Errors? Causes, Types, Prevention, and Safe Medication Use Medicines play an essential role in treating, managing, and preventing illnesses while helping relieve symptoms such as pain and discomfort. However, mistakes can occur at different stages of the medication process. These mistakes are known as medication errors and can sometimes affect a patient’s health and recovery. Medication errors can happen while prescribing, preparing, dispensing, administering, or taking medicines. They may involve the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, improper timing, incorrect administration methods, or misunderstanding medication instructions. These errors can occur in hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and even at home. Understanding what medication errors are, what causes them, and how they can be prevented can help patients, caregivers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals promote safer medication use. What Is a Medication Error? A medication error is an unintentional mistake that occurs during any stage of the medication-use process. It can happen when a medicine is prescribed, prepared, dispensed, administered, or taken incorrectly. Medication errors do not always cause harm. However, some mistakes can result in ineffective treatment, adverse reactions, complications, or worsening of a patient’s condition. Careful communication and attention at every stage of medication use can significantly reduce these risks. Common Types of Medication Errors Medication errors can occur in several forms. Understanding the most common types can help patients and caregivers identify potential risks. Wrong Medication A wrong medication error occurs when a person receives or takes a medicine that was not intended for them or is inappropriate for their condition. For example, medicines with similar names or packaging may be confused. Poor storage and labeling can also increase the risk of taking the wrong medication. Wrong Dosage Error A dosage error occurs when a patient takes more or less medicine than prescribed. Taking too much of a medication can increase the risk of adverse effects or toxicity, while taking too little may make the treatment less effective. Wrong Timing Error Some medications need to be taken at specific times or at particular intervals to work effectively. Taking a medicine too early, too late, or missing a scheduled dose can affect treatment. Patients should follow the timing instructions provided by their healthcare professional or pharmacist. Wrong Patient Error A wrong patient error occurs when medication intended for one person is given to another person. This may happen because of poor identification procedures, incorrect labeling, communication problems, or confusion between patients. Incorrect Method of Administration Some medicines must be administered in a specific way. For example, certain medications may need to be taken with food, while others may need to be taken on an empty stomach. Using the wrong administration method can reduce the effectiveness of a medicine or increase the risk of unwanted effects. Missed Medication Doses Forgetting to take a prescribed medicine is another common medication error. Repeatedly missing doses may reduce the effectiveness of treatment and can potentially delay recovery. Medication reminders, organized routines, and caregiver assistance can help patients stay on schedule. What Causes Medication Errors? Medication errors can have several causes. Many are preventable when appropriate safety measures and communication practices are followed. Lack of Proper Information Patients may make mistakes when they do not fully understand their medication instructions. Healthcare professionals should clearly explain the medication name, dosage, timing, duration, and method of administration. Patients should also ask questions if any instructions are unclear. Similar Medicine Names or Packaging Some medicines have similar names or packaging, which can increase the possibility of confusion. Proper labeling, organized storage, and carefully checking the medicine before administration can help reduce this risk. Poor Medication Management People who take multiple medications may find it difficult to remember different doses and schedules. Keeping an updated medication list and using a structured medication routine can make medication management easier. Communication Problems Poor communication between patients, caregivers, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists can contribute to medication errors. Important information such as allergies, existing health conditions, current medications, and dosage instructions should be communicated accurately. Distraction and Carelessness Distractions, fatigue, workload, time pressure, and inadequate attention can contribute to mistakes during medication preparation or administration. Following standardized procedures and taking time to verify medication details can help reduce avoidable errors. Inadequate Instructions Patients may incorrectly use a medicine when they do not understand its purpose or how it should be taken. Clear instructions and appropriate patient education are important parts of safe medication use. Who Is More at Risk of Medication Errors? Although medication errors can affect anyone, certain groups may face a higher risk because of complex treatment plans or difficulties managing medicines independently. Older Adults Older adults may take several medications to manage multiple health conditions. Managing different medicines, doses, and schedules can increase the risk of confusion. People With Multiple Health Conditions Individuals with several health conditions may require multiple medications. A complex medication schedule can make it harder to maintain accurate medication routines. Children Children often require carefully calculated medication doses based on factors such as their age, weight, and medical condition. Even a small dosing mistake can potentially cause problems. People With Memory Problems Individuals experiencing memory difficulties may forget medication schedules, take a dose more than once, or accidentally miss doses. They may benefit from reminders, organized medication systems, and assistance from caregivers. What Are the Consequences of Medication Errors? The consequences of medication errors depend on the type of error, the medicine involved, and the patient’s health condition. Potential consequences can include: Ineffective treatment Delayed recovery Unwanted or adverse effects Allergic reactions Worsening of an existing condition Additional healthcare requirements Increased risk of complications Because the consequences can vary significantly, suspected medication errors should be addressed promptly by an appropriate healthcare professional. Book Your Free Marketing Consultation How Can Medication Errors Be Prevented? Many medication errors can be reduced through simple and consistent safety practices. Keep an Updated Medication List Maintain a current list of all medications being taken. Include: Medication names Dosages Frequency Instructions Relevant allergies or medication-related information An updated medication list
The Role of EHR Software in Reducing Medication Errors With the introduction of Electronic Health Record, or EHR, software, healthcare has witnessed a sea change, more so in medication safety measures. Electronically capturing patient health information, EHR systems make sure emergency providers have pervasive access to accurate data that reduces the chance of medication errors. Facilitated Prescription Management Prescribing management gets reformed through EHR systems because all data concerning patient medication history along with other related information get consolidated. Healthcare professionals can quickly access all the relevant data of the patient, including past prescriptions or known allergies and possible drug interactions, before prescribing drugs to the patient. All the necessary information is gathered at one place so that the concerned healthcare experts can quickly go through it and make a well-informed decision. This reduces the possibility of prescribing errors and hence improves overall patient safety. Time is saved and accuracy ensured as far as medication management is concerned by the lean process brought into play by the EHR system. Healthcare professionals will be able to give more time to the care of patients and less on administrative tasks if there is no need to scour through lines and pages of different paper records or numerous electronic systems. Support For Decisions In Real Time Among the most valuable features of EHR software, though is its capability to offer real-time decision support to healthcare providers themselves. The systems actually embed clinical guidelines and best practices in the prescribing workflow. They will identify adverse reactions to physicians with an alert or warning over drug interactions or dosage discrepancies. Empowered with the right information at the right time, EHRs enable proactive decision-making that reduces risks associated with medication errors and improves patient outcomes. The ability of a real-time decision support tool to act proactively for the modern healthcare setting environment is crucial because, in this setting, a quick response to each critical information usually means the difference between effective treatment and possible harm for the patient. Improved Communication And Coordination Effective communication and coordination among health teams serves as the basis for avoiding medication errors and enhancing patient care outcomes. The EHR Software in Reducing Medication Errors will permit efficient information sharing between physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other caregivers. This is because the platforms ensure real-time access to patients’ information, including current medications, treatment plans, and medical history. This particle of interoperability ensures healthcare team members are up to date with the trends and can efficiently collaborate in patient care. EHR systems reduce the risk of medication errors that may result from misunderstandings or oversights by ensuring transparency in health care workflows and improving channels of communication. When health professionals are more coordinated, then transitions of care become very smooth with continuity for the patients remaining well maintained. This in turn, supports the adaptation of safer practices in the course of delivering the best possible health outcomes. Book Free Demo Automated Alerts And Reminders EHR systems can contribute greatly to patient safety with automated alerts and reminders. These systems are designed to notify the healthcare providers on time about their important medication-related work. The notifications can be regarding renewal of medication, allergies of the patients, dosage change needs, or even more such drug interaction feasible. They avoid probable errors before their occurrence since EHRs notify the healthcare experts in real-time. This feature not only tightens the noose on the risk factor but also tightens the noose for medication-related challenges on the caregivers. Also, automation reminders have an effect to critically improve patient safety, with timely interventions and proper adherence to set treatment guidelines. Medication administration accuracy and completeness are maintained by healthcare teams through reminder alerts, hence reducing the chances of adverse outcomes. The alertness proactive safety aspect of the EHR system creates the difference in prevention of medication errors and improvement in quality of health care generally. Improved Patient Engagement With EHR Software in Reducing Medication Errors One of the ingredients in realizing this good medication management and medication-adherence situation is patient engagement. EHR Software in Reducing Medication Errors ensures patient engagement by allowing the individual to access and have a record of his own personal health information. A patient can get complete information about his medication list, dose, and other ongoing treatment procedures. This brings to light more understanding of their current condition, the kind of treatment someone is undergoing, which in real sense allows them to take charge when it comes to managing their care. Well-educated on their health, the patient will, therefore be better placed to keep on their prescribed drugs and keenly adhere to all treatment recommendations. This kind of enthusiastic involvement can significantly reduce medication errors and thereby enhance adherence to treatment that ultimately translates to improved health outcomes. Data-Driven Insights And Continuous Improvement Moreover, the EHRs have sophisticated data analysis tools that provide much worthwhile information on trends of medication usage, medication-adherence rates, and their impact on patient outcomes. Healthcare organizations apply these data to define trends, track weak points, and bring about targeted interventions. Providers can, use data-driven insights to make constant improvements to medication safety, but finally to deliver optimal care and patient safety. This means that better analysis of comprehensive data sets places healthcare providers in a better capacitated position to tailor treatment plans to meet the individual needs of every single patient. From that point onward, quality of care and general patient-satisfaction is bound to improve through these improved medication management strategies. EHR systems are, therefore, useful in realizing continuous improvement in healthcare settings. This mechanism ensures medication safety and progress in patient care are consistently pursued and realized. Conclusion It therefore follows that EHR software has a high impact in the reduction of medication errors because it improves prescription accuracy, supports informed decision-making and enhances communication among healthcare teams, empowers patients and finally, provides data-driven insights. As technological advancement in the use of healthcare continues to change with time, the adoption of such digital solutions is crucial to the improvement of
Disasters Due To Medication Errors And How To Avoid These? Everyone has to take medicines at different stages of their life. They take the medicine or receive it to recover soon, but sometimes these medications can cause them serious damage or even cause death. In this article, we are going to discuss the causes, case studies, and prevention of medication errors. According to an estimate, a medication error is the third leading cause of people’s death, after heart disease and cancer. Over 250,000 people in the United States die annually because of medication errors. The consequences of medical error include 2.4 million extra hospital days and increased costs of approximately $17 to $29 billion per year. The United States National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention defines a medication error as: “Any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer. Such events may be related to professional practice, health care products, procedures, and systems, including prescribing, order communication, product labeling, packaging, and nomenclature, compounding, dispensing, distribution, administration, education, monitoring, and use” Causes Of Medication Errors The causes that result in medication errors occur at different sites. It can occur due to accidents by the pharmacist, doctor, nurse or consumer. Some errors that eventually result in medication errors are; Error in prescribing the dose, route, patient, time, frequency and drug. Ambiguous prescription by the doctor. Prescribing drugs to which the patient is allergic or any drug interaction is there. Not reading the prescription properly. Dispensing the wrong preparation or an expired drug. Labeling errors. Administration errors in route, dose, time, drug, frequency and patient. The drug is not administered or double-checking omission. Wrong setting of the infusion pump. Lookalike sound-alike drugs. The patient not seeking proper counseling by the doctor or pharmacist. Case Studies Regarding Medication Errors CASE #01. A case study reveals a medication error when a 71-year-old recently widowed female was hospitalized for uncontrolled hypertension and acute kidney injury. She improved clinically and upon discharge, her prescription included Norvasc 10mg twice daily, metoprolol 50mg twice daily, doxazosin 2mg daily and torsemide 30mg daily. After that, they readmitted her in the hospital because she began experiencing worsening fatigue, slow movements, personality changes, and uncontrolled blood pressure. This time they admitted her due to chest pain, and the doctor diagnosed her with anxiety and depression. The doctors prescribed her citalopram and alprazolam for anxiety and depression. She was then re-hospitalized following a fall due to lightheadedness. An admission medication reconciliation revealed that the patient was taking Navane (thiothixene), an anti-psychotic drug, instead of the Norvasc. After further investigation, they came to know that the pharmacy has accidentally dispensed the wrong medication upon the prescription that was clear enough to be read. CASE #02. Another case study reveals the accident likely of ‘confirmation bias’. This medication error case happened at a public school clinic in Missouri and was discovered from an investigation from the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health. The nurse administered Humalog U-100 insulin to the people instead of an influenza vaccine. After administration, the first two patients complained about sweating and lightheadedness. The other two patients required hospitalization for their symptoms. One of them had a blood glucose level of 23mg/dl. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the influenza vaccine vial and the 10ml vial of Humalog U-100 insulin were kept together in the nurse’s office refrigerator. They were not stored in separated, labeled containers or bins. The influenza vaccine manufacturer conducted a detailed analysis of their product. They tried to rule out the error that could have occurred due to the quality control problem. CASE #03. Another case study showing administration error is discussed. This medication error occurred when a 40-year-old female was rushed to the emergency room after eating seafood. She was complaining about shortness of breath and had rashes on the body. Upon examination by the doctors, they found that she was having edema on the throat with mild stridor upon inspiration. Her body temperature was 98.7 F, blood pressure was 100/69 mm Hg, and pulse was 70 bpm. The doctors placed her on supplemental oxygen and ordered the nurse to administer a 0.5mg (1:1000) dose of epinephrine. After receiving IV epinephrine, she started complaining about chest pains on her left side along with tingling fingertips. The ECG showed ST elevation and serum creatine kinase levels were increased consistent with myocardial infarction. The doctors gave her two doses of 0.4mg sub-lingual nitroglycerin over the next ten minutes until her heart rate and blood pressure became normal. Her ECG then showed that the ST levels have returned to baseline. Upon investigation, they concluded it, while the doctor ordered 0.5mg (1:1000) dose of epinephrine, the route of administration was unspecified. The nurse administered the epinephrine intravenously instead of intramuscular route. The patient should have received intramuscular epinephrine as she was suffering from anaphylaxis. The doctors reserve intravenous epinephrine normally for the patients with myocardial infarction. How Can The Consumers Prevent The Medication Errors? AT HOME: Maintain a list of all the medications you are taking. Keep that list with you when you are going for a review to the doctor. Read the educational material from a reliable internet source. AT CLINIC/ OUTPATIENT CARE: Ask the prescriber about the drug, its effect and side effects. Recheck the drug’s name and also the indications after the doctor has prescribed it. AT PHARMACY: Re-check the name (brand or generic) on the container. Seek pharmacist’s counseling, even if you already know about it. Ask for written literature of the drug. Recheck the drug’s name and indications after the pharmacist has dispensed. AT HOSPITAL/ INPATIENT CARE: Ask the doctor or nurse about the drug and its reason for administration. Give a proper history regarding every medication you have been taking. Also, tell them about your prior health conditions. Before the discharge from the hospital, make sure to ask
