When your patients make an appointment with you for a problem involving itching, rashes or allergies, prescribing prepackaged medical creams may be the best option.
The typical protocol is to prescribe an ointment, at which they go to the pharmacist to get the prescription filled. They go home and apply a random amount of cream to their external problem. While your prescription noted exactly how much they should apply, patients do not often abide by your instructions.
Not because they don’t want to follow your instructions, but mostly because it is hard to measure an exact amount of cream to squeeze out of a large tube. Many times, patients squeeze too hard and instead of wasting the medicine, they apply it.
There is one way to avoid problems such as these and that is to prescribe prepackaged medical creams. Prepackaged medical creams have several advantages for both you and your patients. Keep reading to find out how your practice can benefit.
Exact Dosing
Prepackaged medical creams come in individual doses, just like non-cream medications. This means patients do not have to worry about squeezing too much of the ointment out of the tube each time they need to use it.
When patients overuses their medicine, it creates a concern that they will run out of medicine they need before their next refill date.
With prepackaged creams, they simply separate the individual dose from the rest of the package, open it and apply. Accidental overuse is not an issue, making this process safer for the patient as well.
Immediate Availability
When a patient has an itch, rash or allergic reaction, they want immediate relief. They do not want to travel to a pharmacy and wait in long lines to relieve their symptoms. If their skin issue is contagious, going to a pharmacy is not safe for other customers or pharmacy staff.
Instead, you can provide patients with relief right there at the point of care. They can even be administered their first dose under your supervision.
Prepackaged Medical Creams Save Money
If you were to peek into the medicine cabinets of your patients, you would likely find several tubes of unfinished creams or ointments. Most of them are only half empty and many times because the patient squeezed out too much, not because they needed all the cream that is now missing.
With pre-packaged creams and ointments, patients can be given the exact number of doses needed to clear up their problem. That means you only need to purchase the exact amount, and your patient only needs to purchase the exact amount. This can save both of you a great deal of money.
There is a cost associated with patients not taking their medicine as well. Prepackaging can help prevent this problem.
No More Waste With Prepackaged Medical Creams
According to reports, over five billion dollars in unused, unopened medications are wasted each year.
This can be avoided by prescribing only what the patient needs and not anything more. Some of this waste is due to non-compliance by patients. They pick up their prescriptions and fail to use them for a variety of reasons.
By prescribing ointments at point of care you are better able to monitor patient compliance. And you can follow up with patients when you find them to be non-compliant.
When patients are compliant, health outcomes will improve. Meaning, your patients will see greater results and will be satisfied with your treatments. When patients are satisfied, their loyalty to your practice increases.
Avoid Negative Side Effects
Topical creams can have unwanted side effects if used inappropriately. For example, creams with steroids can create withdrawal symptoms when a patient stops using it.
Both local and systemic side effects can appear if patients misuse their treatment. Or, if they do not know what signs to look for because the pharmacist did not consult with them about side effects.
You can explain possible side effects when you provide medicines at point of care. You can let them know if it is normal to feel a stinging at first and whether it should subside over time.
You can inform them that if they notice evidence of skin discoloration, stretch marks or other unwanted effects, to contact you right away.
Offering prepackaged medical creams as part of your in-office services will show your patients you care about them receiving pain relief quickly and effectively. This ancillary service will set you apart from other physicians who are not interested in improving the quality of care of their patients.