Benefits of Doctor-Patient Medication Education
Identifying the root cause of a patient’s medical ailments and identifying the right prescription treatment regimen to treat their condition is foundational to the modern healthcare ecosystem. However, patient medication education often takes a backseat, largely due to the decentralized nature of traditional dispensing processes.
As a healthcare provider, taking the lead on patient medication education gives you an opportunity to support better health outcomes and empower your patients to make informed decisions about their care journeys. Proactively educating patients can also reduce the risk of medication errors and help patients manage chronic conditions.
Here’s a look at the benefits of doctor-patient medication education and how your office can centralize this critical process through physician dispensing.
Why Medication Education Matters
Medication education ensures that patients understand what their medications are and why they were prescribed. An effective education process covers a wide range of key topics, including the following:
- Dosage instructions
- Medication timing (i.e., morning, night)
- Potential side effects and interactions
- Activities or foods and supplements that must be avoided
The quality of patient medication education that individuals receive at local pharmacies varies greatly. Healthcare providers can ensure that every one of their patients receives adequate education by handling this critical process in the office.
Quality education emphasizes the importance of following a treatment protocol and may discourage non-compliance. On the other hand, a lack of education could increase a patient’s risk of non-compliance and lead to diminished health outcomes.
Key Benefits of Doctor-Patient Medication Education
The benefits of doctor-patient medication education include the following:
Improved Medication Adherence
Medication adherence is crucial for successful treatment. However, many patients struggle to follow their prescribed regimens. Educating your patients can help emphasize the importance of taking medications as prescribed.
When you explain why medications are necessary, how they work, and what to expect, your patients are more likely to comply.
Emphasize that patients need to finish short-term treatment regimens as well. For example, if you prescribe someone a 10-day antibiotic protocol, encourage them to finish the entire 10-day supply, even if they start feeling better halfway through the treatment plan.
While discussing adherence, make sure to emphasize the importance of timing. Taking medications at the appropriate time each day can have a direct impact on treatment outcomes and how a patient feels.
Reduced Risk of Medication Errors
Medication errors are a common yet preventable issue in healthcare. Providing patients with proper education lowers the risk of taking incorrect dosages or misusing medications. Make sure that your patients understand how much they are supposed to take per dose and how many doses they are supposed to take per day.
Many errors stem from confusion about when or how to take a medication. A lack of clear written instructions can increase the chances of these types of mistakes. When you explain prescriptions in simple language and provide patients with written resources to support your verbal education, they will be better equipped to follow the appropriate treatment protocol.
Discussing potential risks and interactions is also important in preventing errors. Patients need to know what they are and are not allowed to take when on a prescription drug regimen. Make sure that your education sessions include a conversation about herbal supplements as well as OTC drugs.
Help Patients Make Informed Choices
Patient medication education is about improving outcomes and preventing errors. One of the most important benefits of doctor-patient medication education is that it empowers patients to take control of their care journeys. They should know the benefits, risks, and alternatives of medication so they can actively participate in their treatment.
Let’s say that a patient is being started on a low-dose metformin protocol. It’s important to outline what they can do to help the medication treat their condition. You can discuss lifestyle changes that may prevent the need for additional interventions. For example, transitioning to a lower carbohydrate diet may promote better blood sugar levels and prevent insulin dependence.
Better Management of Chronic Conditions
Patients who have chronic medical conditions must adhere to their medication regimens to maintain health and prevent complications. Effective medication education ensures that patients understand the role of their prescriptions in managing conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Asthma
When patients grasp how their prescriptions help control symptoms, they may be more likely to remain committed to the treatment plan. On the other hand, undereducated patients who start to “feel better” may stop their medication because they falsely believe that it fixed their underlying medical condition.
Proper education highlights the importance of consistency. Following prescription drug routines and taking medications at the right time each day are critical.
Ability to Recognize Side Effects
During the educational process, you have an opportunity to discuss side effects and adverse reactions. It’s important to outline both types of effects and help your patients understand the difference between the two.
If a patient believes that a common, temporary side effect is really an adverse reaction, they may stop taking the medication and refuse to go back on the treatment regimen. This is of particular concern if the patient feels blindsided or surprised by the effect.
Let’s say that a patient is prescribed a statin drug to treat their high cholesterol. GI disturbances like diarrhea are common (and often temporary) side effects of statin drugs.
However, if the patient does not receive adequate education on these side effects and experiences a multi-day bout of GI disturbances, they may stop the medication immediately and become non-compliant with treatment.
As a provider, you can reduce the risk of non-compliance by educating your patient on the side effects of the drug and explaining that the GI disturbances should subside within a few days. If a patient expects these effects, they are more likely to view them as a normal part of their body’s adjustment to the medication.
Best Practices for Effective Medication Education
As you begin to revise your patient medication education processes, it’s important to:
- Use multiple strategies and formats
- Use simple language and avoid jargon
- Incorporate visual aids or illustrations
- Provide patients with written resources
- Encourage clients to ask lots of questions
Providing effective medication education when a patient is initially prescribed a new medication can set the stage for better follow-up discussions as well. A patient who understands what their medication does and why they are on it can participate in follow-up appointments and discuss their treatment journey.
Improve the Doctor-Patient Relationship
Educating your patients on their treatment regimens and prescriptions is a great trust-building exercise. Open discussions about medication recommendations make your patients feel heard and respected. In turn, they will be more open to deferring to your expertise while also speaking up when they have a concern.
The long-term benefits of doctor-patient medication education can improve doctor-patient relationships and your practice’s reputation. In turn, an improved reputation may help you attract additional patients and grow your business.
Tips for Effective Medication Education
Step one to effective patient medication education is to use clear, simple language. Break things down in terms your patients will understand. You should also give them an opportunity to ask questions. Be prepared to field questions like:
- How does this medication work?
- Will this drug treat/fix my condition?
- Will I have to take this medication forever?
- Should I take the medication with food?
- What are the side effects of this drug?
Answer these questions in enough detail to satisfy your patient’s concerns. Make sure you provide them with written instructions and follow-up resources.
You should also take this opportunity to clear up some common misconceptions about prescription vs. non-prescription drugs. For example, some patients may believe that they can take non-prescription medications at their discretion. After all, the medications aren’t “prescription drugs.”
During your educational process, it’s important to discuss potential interactions with over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements. Patients should understand that everything they put in their bodies could have an impact on their long-term health and the efficacy of the medications you prescribe.
How Proficient Rx Supports Medication Education
Proficient Rx offers in-office dispensing solutions that promote more effective patient medication education. Our prepackaged medications are clearly labeled to reduce confusion and ensure your patients know which prescriptions they are receiving.
Moving dispensing in-house not only gives you control over the educational process but also generates an additional revenue stream for your business.
Proficient Rx also offers resources to help you and your team educate patients on their medication regimens. Our comprehensive support is designed to promote better outcomes and a more frictionless journey for those in your care.
Physician dispensing not only centralizes patient medication education but also has a positive impact on patient outcomes. Help your patients regain control of their health journeys by offering in-office dispensing and high-quality education.
Centralized Patient Medication Education With Doctor Dispensing
Contact Proficient Rx to learn more about our patient medication education resources and in-office dispensing solutions. These resources will enable you to unlock the benefits of doctor-patient medication education while also improving the care experience for your patients.
We also invite you to explore our library of online content and education resources for healthcare providers, including our guide on how doctor dispensing works.