In today’s healthcare environment, following up with patients is not only critical to compliance and outcomes, it is also a proactive approach to reducing risk and improving safety. According to one study of patients discharged after being prescribed a new medication:
- 86% were aware that they had been prescribed new medications.
- Fewer could identify the name (64%) or number (74%) of their new medications or their dosages (56%), the schedule to take them (68%), or the purpose of the prescription (64%).
- Only 22% could name at least one adverse effect.
- Only 11% could recall being told of any adverse effects.
Reference link: http://blog.medicalgps.com/the-importance-of-patient-follow-up