Improving Patient Medication Adherence

Your pharmacy can provide simple, understandable instructions on how and when patients can take their medications. Use of brochures, videos, and digital resources to educate patients about their medications. Offer medication guides and pill organizers to help patients understand their regimen and remember to take their medications. Organize educational workshops for your community on managing chronic conditions and medication adherence.

Align medication refill dates so patients can pick up all their prescriptions at once. This reduces the number of visits to your pharmacy and helps patients stay on track with their medication schedule. Implement automatic refill services to ensure patients receive their medications on time without having to remember each refill date.

• Utilize phone calls, text messages, or email reminders to prompt patients about upcoming doses or refills.
• Recommend or offer an app that tracks medication schedules, provides reminders, and allows for easy communication with the pharmacy.
• Provide pre-packaged medications in blister packs or use medication organizers to simplify complex regimens.
• Conduct regular Medication Therapy Management (MTM) sessions to review medications, address side effects, and assess adherence.
• Develop individualized medication management plans based on the patient’s specific needs and health conditions.

Encourage patients to discuss any issues or concerns about their medications to foster a supportive environment where patients feel comfortable asking questions. Use motivational interviewing techniques to explore and address barriers to adherence and enhance patient motivation. Examples of questions may include:

• “What is important to you?”
• “How do these behaviors conflict with your values?”
• “How would you go about making this change?”
• “How does substance use conflict with your goals?”
• “What does change look like for you?”

Schedule follow-up calls or visits to monitor adherence, address any problems, and reinforce the importance of following the medication regimen.

Customize your communication and interventions efforts based on the patient’s health literacy, preferences, and needs. Ensure that education and support are culturally sensitive and address any language or cultural barriers.

Provide information to your patients about assistance programs or generic alternatives to help with medication costs. Assist with addressing any issues related to medication access, such as transportation or pharmacy location problems.

Work closely with your community’s physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to ensure a coordinated approach to medication management and patient care. Align medication adherence goals with the patient’s overall health goals and treatment plan.

Use adherence metrics to track patient progress and identify trends. Regularly review this data to refine strategies and improve adherence rates. Gather feedback from patients about their experiences and challenges with medication adherence to inform and adjust practices.