Project Advisory Team — Medicine Safety: A Toolkit for Families
The Medicine Safety: A Toolkit for Families was developed by The Center for Improving Medication Management (The CIMM) and the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) to help ensure that consumers of all ages have access to important information and educational resources to promote safe and appropriate medicine use.
As baby boomers age and life expectancy continues to lengthen, more and more Americans are falling into what’s been termed the “sandwich generation”—raising and caring for their children and aging parents. Trying to balance family responsibilities and worrying about your family’s health can be overwhelming. Medicines are often an integral part of managing various health ailments and medical conditions. Our focus on the family is intended to equip consumers—parents, children and, in many cases, older parents for whom caregiving services are being provided—with the information, knowledge and skills needed to take medicines properly.
According to recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), patients in the United States made over 1.1 billion visits to physician offices and hospital outpatient and emergency departments in 2006. That’s an average of four visits per person per year. During that same year, seven out of 10 visits had at least one medication provided, prescribed, or continued.* (Ref: “Americans Made Over 1 Billion Hospital and Doctor Visits in 2006,”CDC/NCHS Office of Communication, August 7, 2008, see http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r080806.htm) For physician office visits alone, four out of five Americans who visit the doctor leave with a prescription.
When used correctly, medicines can provide tremendous benefit. Consumers are encouraged to share information about their medical and medication history, take part in decisions about treatment, follow the treatment plan, watch for problems and seek medical help if needed. The Medicine Safety: A Toolkit for Families offers onscreen and linked information, as well as a wide range of downloadable materials to help prepare for medical visits, participate in medication discussions, take or monitor medicine by others in the home, and report any medicine-related problems.
Scott Barclay CVS Caremark Woonsocket, RI
Kate Berry Senior Vice President, Business Development Surescripts, and Executive Director The Center for Improving Medication Management Alexandria, VA
Mark Blatt Director, Health Industry Solutions Intel Corporation Folsom, CA
Ray Bullman Executive Vice President National Council on Patient Information and Education Bethesda, MD
Rebecca Burkholder, J.D. Vice President of Health Policy National Consumers League Washington, DC
Kim Caldwell Director, Pharmacy Outcomes Research Humana, Inc. McKinney, TX
Paul Cotton Senior Legislative Representative AARP Washington, DC
Amanda Crowe, MA, MPH Impact Health Communications, LLC
Deborah Davidson Membership Director National Council on Patient Information and Education Bethesda, MD
Vince Giglotti Senior Manager, Marketing Communications Surescripts Alexandria, VA
Dana Guilfoyle Vice President, Communications Medical Group Management Association Englewood, CO
Casey Kozlowski (Handal), R.Ph., MBA Manager, Automation and Technology Development Walgreen CO. Deerfield, IL
Michael Lake Consultant to The CIMM San Francisco, CA
Pat Perry Vice President, Digital Health Group General Manager, Healthcare Information Technology Intel Corporation Folsom, CA
Marlene Povich Povich Design Bethesda, MD
Lee Rucker, MSPH AARP Washington, DC
Anna Howard Schwamlein AARP Washington, DC
Tracy Timberlake Director, Center for Consumer Messaging Humana Pharmacy Solutions Louisville, KY
Steve Waldren, M.D. American Academy of Family Physicians Leawood, KS
