Medication Management

Medication management can be effective and helpful for a wide range of patients. Many prescriptions can be confusing. Dosing information may be unclear. Some medications can interact badly with other medications, including herbal treatments. Some medications can be taken safely for extended periods of time while others can only be taken for a short period of time. If you take a number of medications, are confused about the medications you are taking, or need to take a medication for an extended period, medication management can help.

Our physicians and healthcare professionals engage in practices that ensure you are getting the right medications and that they are being used effectively for treating your pain. Work with a medication management therapist can include:

• Assessing the medications, both prescription and over the counter, that an individual patient is currently taking. This can identify potential side effects and interactions.
• Formulating short and long-term plans for treatment with medication.
• Educating patients to ensure compliance with medical recommendations to help the patient get an optimal outcome.
• Monitoring the safety and effectiveness of medications that the patient is taking.

With this joint effort between doctors and pharmacists, they can ensure that the daily medications you take are working together in a safe and effective manner. The result is a lower chance of medication abuse and harmful interactions.

While every facility will customize their medication therapy management to suit each patient’s unique needs, MTM usually is centered around these five core components:

• Medication therapy review – This is a consultation about the medications that can best manage your condition – This is often handled through an interview or a checklist. You and your medical professionals will discuss the options that offer the best chance at a full recovery while minimizing side effects.
• Personal medication record – This is a list of any other medications, prescription or over-the-counter, that you are currently taking. It will also involve dietary supplements and herbal products. Getting a record of all the medications you are taking can help avoid inter-drug reactions and adverse effects.
• Medication-related action plan – Also called the MAP, this is a tool to determine the actions to take or avoid in order to achieve your health goals. For example, someone coping with chronic pain will develop an action plan that involves therapies and medications that can combat pain.
• Intervention or referral – Your pharmacist and doctor will work together to ensure that you are getting proper patient education and monitoring as needed.
• Documentation and follow-up – This step ensures that there is a complete record of your care as a patient, including a documented history of the medications you are taking. It will include any history regarding side effects or interactions, as well as which therapies have proven effective. This regularly updated documentation allows you to have a medical history that you can share with other providers when needed.

Medication works best when it is used in combination with other therapies that can include weight loss, smoking cessation, physical therapy, and other measures. At our comprehensive clinic, we have professionals from a range of disciplines to create a pain management program expressly for you and your needs.