Know your medication (MedRec)

At Northern Health we are working to ensure that our health care providers partner with our patients and caregivers to make sure that a patient’s medication list is complete, accurate, and up-to-date. We call this process Medication Reconciliation, or MedRec. MedRec creates a list that confirms all the medications a patient should be taking every time they move into, out of, or within our care.

But, making sure we have an up-to-date list of a patient’s medications isn’t enough. We are committed to sharing this information with members of the health care team.

Knowledge is the best medicine also offers a create your own customizable PDF medication record that can be saved on your devices or printed.

You can help make your care safer by keeping a list of all your medicines and how you take them. Keep the list with you at all times and show the list to your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or other health care professional any time you receive care.

This way, your health care professional will know what medicines you are taking and how. This can prevent a mistake with your medicines like missing a dose of a medication you need, or getting two medications that shouldn't be taken together.

Your list should include all your medicines, even medicine that you buy without a prescription. Any time you begin to take a new medicine, add it to your list. Don't forget things like vitamins, minerals, herbals remedies and medicines you take for pain!

Learn more about keeping a list of medicines by watching the video Medication Safety by Doc Mike Evans

You know best what medications you take and how you take them.

If you take medications, you play a role in your health care when it comes to medication safety. Keep an up-to-date list of all the medications you take and carry it with you. Medication, or medicine, doesn’t just mean the prescriptions you take. Your medication list speaks for you in case you can’t, or if you don’t always remember all the medications you take.

Sharing your updated list every time you see your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider helps them give you the best care possible. It could even prevent a dangerous medication situation.

That’s a good question. The problem is that you may have seen more than one health care provider, gone to more than one pharmacy to have a prescription filled, or may not be taking the medicine the way it was prescribed.

Your medications and the way you take them may change over time, your health care team wants to ensure they know exactly what you're taking.

Medications are more than just those that a doctor prescribes. They include a long list of the ones that you buy “over the counter”, medications that you do not have a prescription for such as pain medication, cold medicines, laxatives, vitamins, minerals, natural, herbal remedies, and recreational drugs, patches, inhalers, eye/ear/nose drops, creams, lotions, ointments, and even samples that the doctor may give you.

When you meet with your health care provider, or go to a health care centre, tell them:

• The names and strengths of all the medication you take
• How you take the medication (for example, time of day, dose (amount), and how often)

This ensures that the medications will be safe and effective for you. There are many ways you can keep track of the medication you take, from a list in your wallet or purse, to something you keep on your mobile device. We have included some medication tracking tools to help you.

View full size image (PDF)

Knowledge is the best medicine has developed a free app "MyMedRec" that among other things helps patients keep a record of their medicines and immunizations. This free app is available for use on Android and iPhone devices.