HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

Research shows that there is a communication gap between patients and their healthcare providers (HCPs)—doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and pharmacists— when it comes to talking about medications—even when discussing the benefits and risks of prescription medicines.  According to recent BeMedWise survey research, Knowledge, Attitudes & Behaviors Concerning Risk & Safety Information of Medicines: A Survey of patients/Patients and HCPs in the U.S., HCPs are patients’ primary source of information about the medicines they take. Yet, it should come as no surprise that patients and their caregivers may not always remember all of the prescription instructions and safety information discussed during an office visit or at the pharmacy.  Or patients may be reluctant to ask or are unaware of important questions to ask during a medical or pharmacy visit. This consultation gap contributes to unnecessary side effects, drug interactions, non-adherence and costly disease complications.  According to studies looking at the economic consequences of medication nonadherence, as much as $290 billion per year in avoidable medical spending or 13 percent of total healthcare expenditures.  As such, your initiative to engage with your patients and your expert advice can help patients maximize benefit and minimize risk when taking prescription medicines.

As healthcare providers, through high-quality medicine communication, you can help your patients:

• Lessen the possibility of a harmful interaction between the medicine and foods, beverages, dietary supplement(s) (including vitamins and herbals) or other medicines.
• Recognize and avoid side effects.
• Monitor their medicines’ effects.
  
  

Better communication contributes to maximizing the helpful effects and minimizing the possible unwanted effects for the medicines you prescribe and dispense.

TalkBeforeYouTake.org contains tools that support high-quality patient-HCP engagement, helping to ensure that your patients don’t walk out of your office or pharmacy wondering, “What were those medication instructions again?”

In Healthcare Provider Tools, you will learn the facts about communication disconnects between patients and healthcare providers, as well as talking points that you can incorporate into your interactions with patients and caregivers.

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