Tips for managing your meds

Managing your health is an exercise in education and organization, and it’s something that more than four in 10 Americans are dealing with. Though there’s a push for medical offices and institutions to better coordinate care with one another, right now it often falls squarely on the shoulders of the patient: you.

“There are lots of resources available on the internet to help you organize,” says Gail Gibson Hunt, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. But remember: “You have to do what works for you. If you’re good with making a written list every day, then that’s fine.”

Here are several ways to make your life easier when managing your health.

Pick a favorite pharmacy
“Usually it’s good to have all of your prescriptions filled in one place,” says Hunt. This can help you avoid dangerous drug interactions. It also allows you to get to know your pharmacist, who can answer questions about your medicines and conditions. See if your doctor can create your prescription electronically and send it straight over to the pharmacy. Nearly one-quarter of all prescriptions aren’t ever filled, which can’t happen if it’s filled automatically.

Consider 90-day prescription refills.
Talk to your doctor about a 90-day supply of your medications. For current prescriptions, log in to ibx.com to transfer a retail prescription.

Use the patient website. If your doctor or hospital offers access to a patient site, put it to use! Most people with chronic conditions say that using their website to email their doctors helped them better manage their health care and led to better results. Use the site to ask follow-up questions between visits and request appointment changes, referrals, and prescription refills. With online tools, you fill out your health history online just once, and can then access it whenever you need to share information with doctors who aren’t in the same system.

Have a routine. Research shows that up to half of Americans don’t take their medications as prescribed. Use a cell phone app (or alarm clock) to set reminders throughout the day that will help you remember to take your medications.

One app that can help is Medisafe (medisafe.com), which was chosen by the caregiver site caring.com as one of the best caregiving apps of 2018. This free tool does more than alert you when you’re due for a dose. It also reminds you how to take it (for example, with food), provides info on your meds and conditions, and directs you to coupons and special offers.

Associate your medications with daily activities
For example, link a routine action—like eating dinner or brushing your teeth—with taking your medications. Or keep your meds next to your coffeemaker to remind yourself to take them while your coffee is brewing.

Talk to your pharmacist
They can be a valuable resource when it comes to staying on top of your medications. Your pharmacist can offer advice, help you sync your medications, or even refer you to pill-pack services—and all without an appointment.

Make sure your doctor and pharmacy have your most up-to date medication list. It is important to keep them updated on any medication changes that may occur, especially after leaving the hospital.

Ask for help. If you are struggling to take your medications as directed, ask a family member, friend, or loved one for assistance. You can task them with giving you a call daily to remind you (which also gives you both a chance to chat and catch up), or they can help you set up one (or a couple) of the other tips mentioned above.

For Independence Blue Cross Medicare Advantage members, if you have questions about your prescriptions a Registered Nurse Health Coach is available 24/7 to help at 1-855-332-3102 (TTY/TDD:711).