Haven and Hope

At the O-School there are students who have medication as part of their overall regimen for health and well-being. We have learned that developing positive habits and routines around medication is essential to maximize the benefit. In working with students and families, sharing current information regarding trends, supports and helpful processes can enhance a student’s experience within the program and improve their ability to take advantage of the supports available to them at the O-School.

Doctors prescribe medication for both medical and mental health needs, and both are equally important. Medication is designed to work in the body when it is taken routinely and as prescribed.

Doctors usually begin by prescribing recommended baseline dosages. Any adverse side effects from prescribed medications should be reported to the doctor so an alternate medication may be trialed. Dosages need to be modified many times to achieve the optimal outcome for each person. Allergies to medications should always be reported to healthcare providers as part of a patient's history. It is advisable to maintain a list of medications and carry it with you in case of an emergency.

Sometimes, people determine that they feel better and they decide to stop taking medication independently or they do not adhere to the guidelines with fidelity. Medication non-compliance can impact overall health and wellbeing and there are studies that indicate that this is becoming increasingly prevalent.

According to studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five prescriptions are never filled, and among those filled, 50% are taken incorrectly by the patient, particularly in relation to timing, dosage, frequency, and duration. Patient-related factors might be unintentional, which can worsen with increasingly complex medication regimens, for example, patients forgetting to take their medications or obtain refills, or inadequate understanding of doses or schedules. Intentional factors include a patient's active decision to stop or modify a treatment regime based on ability to pay, lack of engagement in treatment decision, impaired cognition (e.g., related to aging or disease), substance abuse, depression, beliefs and attitudes about their disease, medication side effects, and expectations for improvement, or other mental health conditions. Provider-related factors related to adherence include barriers to communicating with patients and their caregivers, complex dosing regimens, and limited coordination of care among multiple providers. Advances in health information technology can improve adherence.

According to the CDC, electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) has resulted in a 10% increase in first-fill adherence, compared to paper prescriptions. Some e-prescription software can monitor prescriptions dispensed or unfilled in near real-time as well as send prompts when new or refilled prescriptions are available for pickup. Pillboxes and/or blister packs help to organize medications in simpler ways, and sometimes such approaches can make a significant difference.

In order to help O-School students achieve consistency, sharing insights with students and families and identifying any barriers has been essential. Together, various strategies and approaches are utilized until a system of administration has been established that can be readily maintained.  All along, the team works to ensure access to providers across the full continuum of care.

Author Barbara Prendergast is a registered nurse at the O-School. To learn more about the O-School’s day programs, please visit our website. If you have a child or loved one who you believe may benefit from the O-School’s services, please visit our inquiry page or call our Director of Admissions Kristin Friesen at 773-420-2891.