Medication management is a vital aspect of healthcare that profoundly impacts the lives of people and their families. Depending upon how a person responds to a medication, the type, dosage, frequency, or even method of taking the medication can change.
This can oftentimes be confusing and overwhelming, opening the door for errors from other members of the healthcare team. Medication errors can happen when being discharged from the hospital due to lack of coordination of care, or when you can’t get in to see your primary care team or specialists.
About half of all medication errors occur at the time of discharge from a hospital, and of those, up to one-third of them can harm a person. This can be scary for both the person going home, their loved ones, and the care team who is helping to support their healing and wellness.
For people who are older, have cognitive decline, or take more than just a few pills a day, having a nurse to help advocate for the best regimen of medications and ensure that there are no errors is incredibly helpful.
What Is Medication Management?
Medication management involves managing pills, injections, intravenous infusions, and more. Sometimes, the person doing the management is also administering the medication, but sometimes not. This is where the role of skilled nursing care in overseeing medication regimens cannot be overstated, as the nurse can both manage and administer medications.
Let’s explore the top 10 benefits of entrusting home health medication management to a qualified nurse, highlighting its significance in improving health outcomes and overall well-being for the whole family.
1. Enhanced Peace of Mind
Patients and their families often experience anxiety and uncertainty regarding medication management at home. Worried children often wonder if their parents are taking their medications properly, and oftentimes live far away, making it difficult to ensure adherence without frequently disrupting their lives to check in on mom and dad.
People who are managing heart disease, diabetes, or other chronic medical conditions that require frequent changes to the regimen may also face being overwhelmed just by the sheer number of changes to their usual regimen.
By entrusting medication management to a nurse, anyone can alleviate concerns about missed doses or improper administration to provide peace of mind and reassurance. A registered nurse can also advocate for changes in the regimen to help make the routines more friendly to follow.
2. Promoting Safety
Medication errors can have serious consequences, ranging from adverse reactions to treatment failure. A private duty nurse‘s expertise in medication administration minimizes the risk of errors, ensuring patients receive the correct medications in the appropriate doses and at the prescribed intervals.
Some medications can also impact things like blood pressure, which can lead to falls. In these cases, strict monitoring of how a person responds to their medications can directly impact their physical safety.
With frequent check-ins, a private duty nurse can provide input to the ordering provider about how the person is tolerating the medication, and make recommendations for other options in the event that the medication may not be best suited for the person.
3. Tailored Care
Each person has unique healthcare needs that require personalized attention. Those needs should always be centered around the goals of care for the individual and take into account how the medications affect quality of life.
Nurses collaborate closely with patients and their healthcare teams to develop individualized medication regimens, reviewing factors such as medical history, comorbidities, and lifestyle preferences. People also have the right to choose including naturopathic recommendations into their routines, and this preference should always be honored.
This does, however, open the door for unintended adverse events if there happen to be drug interactions. Yet the right private duty nurses are known for holistic care and will want to ensure that the regimen is both safe and accepted by the entire medical team.
4. Education & Empowerment
Understanding the purpose, dosage, and potential side effects of medications is crucial for effective treatment. In-home nurses serve as valuable resources, providing comprehensive education to people and their families and empowering them to make informed decisions about their healthcare.
That may include helping people understand more affordable options, or simply knowing the best times or ways to take the medication. Nurses can also join you and advocate for you at your regular check-ups and appointments when medication changes arise.
This is a prime time to always have a nurse with you, as they know the questions to ask that you may have never even thought of.
5. Streamlined Medication Management
Managing multiple medications can be overwhelming and confusing — especially for older adults who can end up having too many medications often seen with polypharmacy.
It is critical for their physician to be part of streamlining the medication lists, and nurses can help start that conversation. From making sure the medications are correct and appropriate, to filling the medication boxes accurately, to ensuring that they are taken, nurses can help prevent many safety issues.
A registered nurse will be able to organize medication schedules, facilitate refills, and implement reminder systems, ensuring seamless coordination and adherence to treatment plans. For people and their loved ones, this can bring huge relief knowing that everything is just the way it should be.
6. Continuous Monitoring
Home health medication management extends beyond administration to encompass ongoing monitoring of treatment efficacy and safety. This is incredibly important for people with heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, and cancers.
A registered nurse will monitor a person’s response to medications, identify any adverse reactions or complications, and communicate findings to healthcare providers for timely intervention. If a nurse notices something of concern, they can just call in and talk to your doctor immediately.
Based on their assessment, you may not even need to see the doctor. Rather, they can make modifications and try a new regimen immediately.
7. Advocacy & Support
People often face challenges navigating complex healthcare systems and advocating for their needs. From the ability to pay for medications to accessing them from the pharmacy, nurses advocate on behalf of patients, ensuring that their concerns are heard, their preferences respected, and their rights upheld throughout the treatment process.
People should always know that their best interest is at the center of any discussion, especially when it comes to home health medication management.
8. Family Involvement
The support and involvement of family members are integral to the success of medication management at home. Private duty nurses never see a person as just a person — they are the sum of the person and their family.
Their role is to help educate and engage family members in the care process, fostering collaboration and empowering them to provide effective support to their loved ones.
In doing so, this can help loved ones understand risk factors for certain diseases, as well as the importance of their own personal health at the same time.
9. Time Efficiency
Medication management at home can be time-consuming, particularly for individuals with complex medical conditions. Nurses alleviate the burden by handling medication-related tasks, allowing patients and their families to focus on other aspects of their lives and priorities.
10. Improved Quality of Life
Ultimately, effective medication management contributes to improved health outcomes and enhanced quality of life for everyone. People can feel comfortable taking their medications knowing they are correct, and family members no longer need to own the responsibility of ensuring everything is accurate.
By optimizing the medication regimen, an in-home nurse can help minimize adverse effects and promote holistic well-being to help people and their caregivers live healthier, more fulfilling lives — taking an enormous load off everyone’s shoulders.
As a loved one, you can sleep better at night knowing that your family member is getting exactly what they need. And as a person needing care for yourself, you can trust that your wishes and desires are being met while knowing that your health and safety are the top priorities.
By entrusting medication management to our experienced skilled nursing professionals, you can now navigate the healthcare journey with confidence, knowing you are receiving optimal support and guidance every step of the way.
Want medication management assistance from a team of experts, without leaving your home? Navi Nurses is here to help. Request on-demand care for yourself or a loved one today by calling us at (480) 482-1891 or reach out here. You’ll be heard by a medical professional right away.
