
Blog post
Social Work Breaks Barriers
The month of March is a time we celebrate the social work profession.
Adhering to the medicines your doctor has prescribed you (also known as medication adherence) is important for maintaining your health and keeping your medical expenses lower in the long-term. “Medication adherence” means to continue taking medication as long as your doctor directs, and to take medications as prescribed. There are three phases of medication adherence: (1)
Why is medication adherence important?
Medication adherence can be particularly important for long-term, chronic conditions such as high-cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. In the case of high-cholesterol, for example, one study showed that 33 – 50% of patients stopped taking their cholesterol medication within a year of it being prescribed, and the consistency at which they took the medication got worse over time. (1)
A lack of adherence to medications can lead to higher medical costs, because avoidable medical expenses arise when the patient does not take their medications consistently. (1) Often, patients do not understand the potential serious and long-term consequences of not complying with their treatment.
Why don’t patients always adhere to their medications?
There are many reasons why patients don’t take their medications as prescribed. Factors include the patient’s own motivation, expected treatment results, competing priorities, forgetfulness, inadequate patient education, fear of side effects, and other emotional factors. Other factors that can play a role include side effects experienced by the patient, a desire to take fewer medications, and financial considerations.
Each patient has individual reasons for not taking their medications as prescribed. Landmark providers and nurses can help by creating an individualized plan for long-term adherence, including measures such as:
It is important to work with your Landmark provider and nurse to find ways to take your medications as prescribed. If you are a Landmark patient, talk to your Landmark provider and nurse. He or she may contact a Landmark pharmacist for further support, if needed.
References:
The month of March is a time we celebrate the social work profession.
Landmark physicians and care team members are going door to door conducting home visits to address the social determinants of health in the Detroit area. Dr. Gale Darnell shares her experience of community care from the sidewalks.
Advantage Plus Network–Connecticut, a partnership of Optum and Hartford HealthCare, has teamed up with Landmark to deliver in-home medical care to members with multiple chronic conditions.