How Patient Decisions Impact Your Success

Once the pharmacist hands the prescription to the patient, the patient takes control. They are forced to make critical decisions that impact the success of their therapy.

As many as 30% of patients on medications for chronic conditions don't refill their prescriptions. About 10-20% of patients never get the initial prescription filled in the first place. And even if the medications are filled and refilled, up to 50% of all medications-more than 1 billion--are not taken correctly.

It is not that the patient is stupid. The patient just needs more information (that they can understand) in order to be able to make more informed decisions.

The process of increasing patient knowledge and motivation is complex and cannot be accomplished in a "1-minute" counseling session or simply handing out a sheet of written instructions. But pharmacies that have managed to develop practical, high quality patient education programs are reaping the rewards-which include more effective drug therapy, professional satisfaction, and increased revenue.

Pharmacies with a sound patient compliance program set themselves apart from the others. Their patients and customers recognize them as a pharmacy that cares about them. This helps build consumer loyalty. It can also generate community goodwill and attract positive media exposure.

Did You Know...
... that patients with certain medical conditions can't distinguish between some colors?

Diabetic patients undergoing laser treatment for retinopathy sometimes can't tell the difference between blue and green. Therefore, review the pamphlets and other materials you are giving your diabetic patients to make sure that important information or illustrations don't use blue and green side by side. This could confuse a patient.

Elderly patients are often unable to tell the difference between white and yellow. If you are dispensing two tablets that are about the same size and one is white and one is yellow, be sure to come up with a way to help the patient tell which is which-such as by putting them in different sized prescription vials.

The point is -- even the colors used for patient education materials and medications can impact patient compliance.