As our attorneys reported in a recent Rockville, Maryland pharmacy misfill blog post, according to the National Consumers League (NCL), around three out of four consumers in this country admit they don’t take their prescription drug medication as directed—causing an increase in medication error and injury that has a huge impact on patients and the healthcare industry.
To combat medication error, the NCL has launched a national multi-media medication adherence campaign this month with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), that will aim to raise patient awareness on the importance of taking medication as directed.
According to the NCL, when consumers fail to take medications as instructed by their healthcare professionals, it creates a problem that impacts not only the patient, but the caregivers, employers, researchers, health care practitioners, and tax payers as well. Nonadherence to prescribed medications can also result in injury or death.
Research presented by the league shows that one in three prescriptions never get filled, with 1/3 and 2/3 of hospital admissions linked to medication errors that stem from poor drug adherence. The total cost for nonadherence leads to a reported $300 billion a year.
The campaign will strive to enhance patient safety and improve the healthcare system, encourage health practitioners to properly and effectively communicate the importance of prescription medication adherence to patients, and raise awareness of the problem through public education and a national campaign.
In Rockville, Maryland, contact our pharmacy error injury lawyers today for a free consultation about your rights.
NCL’s medication adherence campaign
‘Use Only as Directed’ Isn’t Easy, The Wall Street Journal, April 26, 2011
A National Campaign to Improve Poor Medication Adherence: America’s ‘Other’ Drug Problem, The National Consumer League: The Case for Improving Adherence
Related Web Resources:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, (ISMP)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
Related Blog Posts:
Another Child Receives Prescription Mix-up From Same Walgreens Pharmacy, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, February 23, 2011
A Pharmacy’s Guide to Medication Therapy Management, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, January 6, 2011