Managing medications can be one of the most challenging tasks for caregivers. It is important for caregivers at care homes to ensure that the residents take only the medications prescribed, exactly as prescribed. They also must coordinate with doctors to minimise the risk of potentially dangerous drug interactions and complications. Having a proper medication administration system in place can help the caregivers help avoid common medication errors like administering the wrong drug, missing doses, or administering the medicine through the wrong route.
Over here we share some important tips for caregivers on managing medications for the seniors:
- Make sure all the medications are stored properly: Make sure all the medicines are stored in an organised manner so that you don’t have to waste time looking for them. There are several tech-enabled devices that help you store medicines in the correct manner. All the medicines must be stored in a lockable trolley or cupboard.
- Set timely reminders: Forgetting to administer medicines at the right time can affect the residents’ health. This can be resolved by having an automated alert system in place. eMAR is a fully-integrated software that will remind and alert the caregivers when medicines are due.
- Ensure that the resident is being administered the right medicine and the right dosage: With paper-based MAR sheets, caregivers have to skim through piles of papers to cross-check the vital medication information each day. This can sometimes lead to confusion which can result in the caregiver administering the wrong dosage of medicine to the residents. With eMAR, you can access all the patient information with just a few clicks. This not only improves operational efficiency but also reduces the chances of wrong or missed dosage or wrong patient information.
- Watch out for signs of possible drug interactions: There are certain drugs and herbal supplements that should be taken together as they could interact with each other. They could cause rashes, wheezing, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, or seizures. Make a note of such signs and inform the doctor accordingly.
If you are spending most of your days doing paperwork and admin- related activities and looking for ways to streamline medication administration processes in your care homes, you must discuss the benefits of eMAR with your care home manager. With eMAR , care homes can automate medication management and ensure greater accuracy and safety.