Personalized Medication Cards Help Patients Stay Safe and Organized

Friday, March 09, 2007

Available Free to Community as Part of Commitment to Patient Safety and Service

Flushing, New York - When it comes to remembering all the medications that a patient takes, it can be hard for some to produce a current and accurate list. With that in mind, New York Hospital Queens introduces a Personalized Medication Card that will help reduce the potential for mistakes that may occur if patients cannot provide a detailed list of current medications at the point of care.  This free card is available, in six languages, to all residents of Queens.

This easy-to-use, fold-up wallet card can help patients keep track of medications, whether prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal. Patients can bring the card with them to medical appointments, as well as their pharmacy. In support of the ICE (In Case of Emergency) Program, conceived by a British paramedic in 2005, the Medical Reconciliation Card also features an “emergency contacts” section.

“Keeping an accurate and complete list of prescription and non-prescription medicines is critical to patient health,” said Terence M. Brady, M.D., Chairman, Department of Medicine, New York Hospital Queens. “Doctors, nurses and pharmacists can offer this tool to patients to help stay informed of a patient’s medication history and avoid medication interaction which could result in unwanted side effects or change the effectiveness of certain medications.”

As part of the hospital’s commitment to the Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals, New York Hospital Queens instituted this service hospital-wide and in ambulatory centers. These cards are available in six languages and can be printed from the home page of the hospital’s website, www.nyhq.org. Additionally, the cards are accessible throughout various locations in the hospital, including the main lobby, Emergency Department, Admissions Office and physician office waiting rooms.

New York Hospital Queens is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and affiliated with Weill Medical College of Cornell University.