Managing Your Medicines Leads to Better Health
 Improper medication use is increasingly becoming a problem in today’s society.
More people are becoming informed about different medications by television and the Internet, but the information they receive from those sources may be incomplete or inaccurate. Individuals may make assumptions about their health and diagnose themselves rather than see a health care provider. Even if they see a doctor, many people fail to follow prescription orders.
"There are many dangers in taking medications, especially if you do so incorrectly," says Claudia Ogburn, pharmacy leader at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center. "You can’t always tell a medication is working by how you feel. For instance, a person with diabetes may feel OK and decide not to take prescribed medication, but the diabetes will continue to cause serious harm such as vision loss and kidney damage.
"Plus, there are a lot of trade names for the same drug. Some patients will be taking the same drug under two different brand names and not realize that they are actually doubling up on one medication. It is extremely important for all patients to be diligent in following instructions given them by their health care providers."
When taking medications, you should always know:
- What you are taking by name and strength,
- Why you are taking it,
- When you should take it, and
- How to take it.
To help people manage their medications, the Medication Use Team at Fort Sanders Sevier has developed Med Minder. The Med Minder is a small card to keep with you at all times with a record of all of your prescription information, emergency numbers, and details of your prescription history.
The Med Minder is free from Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center. You may get one through the switchboard operator in the main lobby of the hospital or at the outpatient registration desk. In addition, Med Minders are available through Covenant HomeCare and Reams’ Drug Store in Sevierville. The card will also be available in many Sevierville-area physicians’ offices. Just look for the Med Minder poster.
For more information on Med Minder, call 429-6100.
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