A Medical Assistant’s Guide to Performing a Medication Check
Contents
As a medical assistant you play a vital role in ensuring that patients receive the medications they need. That’s why it’s important to know how to perform a medication check.
Follow these best practices to ensure that you’re providing quality care to your patients:
1. Review the patient’s chart before administering any medications.
2. Make sure you understand the medication that is being administered.
3. Check the expiry date of the medication.
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Introduction
As a medical assistant you will be responsible for performing a medication check on patients when they come in for their appointment. This is an important task, as it ensures that the patient is taking their medication as prescribed and that there are no negative interactions between different medications.
What is a medication check?
Before a patient can begin taking a medication, it is the medical assistant’s responsibility to ensure that the patient is not allergic to the medication and that the patient does not have any contraindications to taking the medication. The best way to do this is by performing a medication check.
A medication check is when the medical assistant reviews the patient’s medical history and medications to identify any potential problems with taking the new medication. This process includes checking for allergies, contraindications, and other potential problems.
If you are a medical assistant and you need to perform a medication check, there are a few steps you will need to follow. First, you will need to review the patient’s medical history. This includes looking for any previous allergies or reactions to medications. You will also need to check for any contraindications, which are conditions that make it unsafe for a person to take a particular medication.
Next, you will need to review the patient’s current medications. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements. You will need to check for any interactions between the new medication and the other medications the patient is taking. You will also need to check for any side effects or warnings associated with taking the new medication.
Finally, you will need to talk to the patient about their goals for taking the new medication. This will help you determine if there are any other considerations you need to take into account when performing the medication check.
After you have followed all of these steps, you will be able to determine if it is safe for the patient to take the new medication. If everything looks good, then you can give them the go-ahead to start taking it. If there are any concerns, then you can work with their healthcare provider to make sure they are able to take the new medication safely.
Why is it important to perform a medication check?
It is important to perform a medication check for many reasons. First and foremost, it is a way to protect patients from taking the wrong medication or dosage. It also helps to ensure that the medications a patient is taking are still effective and not expired. Additionally, checking for interactions between medications can help avoid potentially dangerous drug interactions.
Who should perform a medication check?
A medication check should be performed by a licensed medical assistant. This person should have completed a medical assistant training program and received certification from a nationally recognized organization, such as the American Association of Medical assistants (AAMA). The medical assistant should also be familiar with the specific medications that the patient is taking.
How to perform a medication check
As a medical assistant, you may be responsible for performing medication checks on patients. This is an important task, as it can help to ensure that patients are taking their medications safely and as prescribed.
There are a few steps that you’ll need to take in order to perform a medication check. First, you’ll need to gather the patient’s medical history and list of current medications. You’ll then need to review the medications with the patient and make sure that they understand how to take them safely. Finally, you’ll need to document the results of the medication check in the patient’s chart.
What to do if a medication error is found
It is estimated that medication errors happen in 1 out of every 5 hospitalizations. If you are a medical assistant and you find a medication error, it is important to know what to do.
The first step is to stop the administration of the medication. If the patient has already taken the medication, inform the prescribing healthcare provider immediately.
Next, document the error in the patient’s chart. Be sure to include the following information:
-What happened
-Who was involved
-When it happened
-What was done to correct the error
-If there was any harm to the patient as a result of the error
Once you have documented the error, notify your supervisor. They will likely want to investigate further and take steps to prevent future errors from happening.
Conclusion
In conclusion, checking a patient’s medication is an important responsibility for Medical Assistants By following the steps outline in this guide, medical assistants can help ensure that patients are taking their medications safely and as prescribed.
References
There are many resources available to medical assistants who want to perform a medication check. The best place to start is with your state’s Board of Pharmacy. Each state has its own regulations regarding the dispensing of medication, and the Board of Pharmacy can provide you with information about the specific requirements in your state.
In addition to the Board of Pharmacy, there are several professional organizations that offer resources and training on performing a medication check. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) is one such organization. ASHP offers online courses and webinars on various aspects of medication safety, including how to perform a medication check.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also offers resources on medication safety. The FDA’s website includes a section on prescription drug errors, which provides information on how to avoid making mistakes when dispensing medication. The FDA also offers a Medication Error Reporting Program (MERP), which allows health care professionals to report errors that they have made in dispensing medication.
Further Reading
If you are interested in learning more about medications and how to perform a medication check, there are a few resources that you can consult. The U.S. National Library of Medicine has a comprehensive website with information on all aspects of medications, including how to safely take them and what to do if you miss a dose. You can also speak to your physician or pharmacist if you have any questions about the medications you are taking.
Hi, I’m Liza, a medical assistant and author of this guide. I’m committed to helping those in the medical field by providing clear, concise instructions on how to properly complete common tasks. In this guide, I’ll be covering how to perform a medication check.
A medication check is an important part of a medical assistant’s duties. It’s crucial that all medications are properly accounted for and that there are no errors in the administration of medications. By performing a medication check, medical assistants can help ensure that patients receive the correct medications and doses.
Performing a medication check can seem daunting, but it’s actually quite simple if you know what to look for. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps of conducting a medication check so that you can feel confident and prepared when it’s time to do one in your own practice.
