View RXProCon Launch, Introduction and Prescription #1
View RXProCon Launch and Introduction
The current mission of RXProCon is to improve patient interaction about procedures and medicines -- helping start conversations, increasing patient awareness and safety.
Technology can be great help or it can be a great burden. Like when ink runs out and you're burning midnight oil for a special project.
When you visit your doctor nowadays they have a laptop and interact with it as you explain your reason for being there. If you are prescribed something the conversation often goes, "Is XYZ Pharmacy on main street still your pharmacy?" You confirm that's the pharmacy you use. Then your prescription is electronically sent to the pharmacy. That's it. (Paper prescriptions may still be used, in which case you take that with you.) Then you go to the pharmacy.
When you get to the pharmacy there may be a line and other people waiting. People waiting could include people coughing, sneezing, itching, or with visible rashes. No matter what's ailing them, you don't want to be close to any of it. You're told estimate wait time and you don't have extra time. So you wander to an aisle you think is far enough from the potential exposure of who knows what infectious things others waiting may be emanating yet within eyeshot to know when your prescription is ready.
You try to remember what 'sundry' items you could get while at the store, but you don't have a list with you. Some pharmacy stores have drive up windows. You don't text and drive, you aren't likely to read prescription fine print while driving.
You decide to pick out some note cards and you find some.
Then your name is called and you get the prescription and check out if you want to ask pharmacist questions. There's more wait time. Maybe you ask if it can be taken with food or to clarify instructions. Other questions might be helpful, but if you don't know what to ask it doesn't get asked.
The store is understaffed, impatient people are behind you; people who are sneezing, coughing, and itching. Your package is stapled closed and now you have a prescription.
When you get home and open the package sometimes you find a small paper folded better than two dozen mothers on a road trip could do. There's the fine print. Now what?
Like medical care in general, other than having an idea of what a co-pay is you don't know how much a prescription or medical services costs until you get the service, prescription and then the bill. Regarding service that bill can be weeks away.
If you buy or get almost any other service you know what the cost is. For example, if you buy a car you get tons of research but this doesn't happen with routine medical care often enough and not always with specialized medical services.
This lack of information prior to getting prescriptions or medical service should change.
Medical professionals do what they do all the time; consumers do not. This contributes to why a young woman is an abuse target of bad gynecologists, because they don't know what is supposed to happen during an exam. That's another topic to detail another time. Los Angeles Times: Longtime USC campus gynecologist accused of sexually assaulting patients.
Suggestion: Patients should ask questions and get answers about prescriptions and/or medical services BEFORE having them.
RXProCon believes a non-medical jargon conversation occurring in the time between a doctor preparing a prescription and a patient opening the prescription package is crucial.
(Whether doctor signs by pressing "enter" on digitally sent prescription, or uses a pen signing on a paper prescription form, prescribers may want to get used to repeating information to various patients during the day. Classic rock and roll superstars repeat performing WELL KNOWN songs to at-capacity concert halls. They are very good at that. A patient of a prescriber is like an audience member seeing a band for the first time and hearing a song for the first time at a venue they've never been to before. More analogies another time.)
Who, What, When, Where, Why, How Questions to ask about every prescription.Summary
What questions to ask, so you get answers, and then you can know what you should know.
RXProCon believes that when a doctor or other prescriber writes a prescription, before they sign it digitally or sign it old fashion style, they should answer question about the prescription. This conversation occurring before a patient even waits in line at a pharmacy let along before they open a prescription package has the potential of being life saving.
Who ?
What ?
When ?
Where ?
Why ?
How ?
Q & A about prescriptions being prescribedCopyright © RXProCon All rights reserved.
RXProCon strongly recommends plan for doctors and prescribers to adopt. RXProCon suggests patients ask the following questions of a prescriber, doctor or otherwise. Answers to these questions will provide relevant information that may help a patient and even their prescriber determine whether the prescription is suitable for the patient and the reason for the prescription* in question.
*The same set of questions could be useful if asked and answered regarding medical procedures as well.
♥
Who sells it?
What is it?
When should I take it?
Where in body does it effect?
Why should I take it?
How does it do what it does?
♥
Who discovered it?
What is helpful about it?
When should I get it?
Where in body does it exit?
Why is it better than other prescriptions, medicines, preparations, etc.?
How is it helpful?
♥
Who makes it?
What is it made of?
When should I stop taking it?
Where is it made?
Why is it made?
How is it made?
♥
Who prescribes it?
What does it do?
When should I get a refill?
Where are its ingredients from?
Why is it necessary?
How is it different from other prescriptions, medicines, preparations, etc.?
♥
Who profits from its sales?
What happens if I don't take it?
When should I call 911 or got to ER? (including regarding bad reactions, or lack of effectiveness needing immediate emergency attention)
Where in the body does it harm?
Why wasn't I prescribed this sooner?
How is it dosed?
Summary: Ask more than one (1) Who, What, When, Where, Why, How questions about every prescription presented by a prescriber, doctor or otherwise.
Small talk might be amusing but it doesn't result in useful, easily understandable medical information.
If you are interested in RXProCon, want to back it, want to stay informed by it, please contact via email at INTERESTin @ RXProCon. com (This is not an email link, you need to type it in yourself, no spaces. Not fancy but simple way to limit bots and spam.)
View RXProCon Launch and Introduction | View RXProCon Prescription #1
This is evolving and work in progress. Maybe that makes it not a BETA version, but a DELTA version.
This domain and site is inspired by a horrible event and near-death experience due to colonoscopy preparation that featured the prescription medication Prepopik®.
Most people can understand that an almost two-week hospital stay, (more than half of which was in ICU), is an adverse event. Such a hospital stay can result in lots of bills, trauma, and recovery that is very challenging and stressful physically, mentally, neurologically, and psychologically.
Challenged and inspired by tragedy, RXProCon was created so that it might help others from going through the same or similar horrible experiences.
The RxProCon concept is evolving. It may involve information promoting and/or pushing for changes to existing and/or new legislation, laws, and policy addressing prescriptions, medical care, and related matters. Because RXProCon may push on political matters beyond the limits of what a non-profit should, it may not be a non-profit. RXProCon may be an advocacy group. Thoughts on improvements in this area are going to start to being posted, even if on a simple site.
The current mission of RXProCon is to improve patient interaction about procedures and medicines -- helping start conversations, increasing patient awareness and safety.
Outline of information that should be included for Colonoscopy (and Colonography*) preparation.Summary
DANGER DANGER signs.
RXProCon believes the phrase, "seek medical assistance" in relation to signs or 'side-effects' actually translates to mean:
- Call 911
- Get to urgent care or Emergency Room (ER) ASAP
To avoid any confusion, misunderstanding, or delay - of even one (1) minute - of receiving emergency medical assistance for life-threatening situations, current language ought to be translated to non-jargon English, be blunt, and clear. (Considering that ballots are provided in multiple languages the same policy should apply to prescription information.)
It should be clear that, "Seek medical assistance" does not mean call your regular doctor during normal business hours Monday - Friday.
Suggestion: Patients need someone with them during test preparation whether on prescription or over the counter medication, or natural concoction.
The word 'laxative' is a bit uncomfortable to acknowledge for some, however, RXProCon believes patients should be counseled so they fully understand colonoscopy and colonography 'preparation' is evacuation of their colon fully.
Colonoscopy (and Colonography*) PrepCopyright © RXProCon All rights reserved.
RXProCon strongly suggests patients prepare with family members, friends, helpers, etc. For example, if during preparation a patient is adversely affected (such as slipping and hitting their head on return trip to the bathroom) they need assistance and may not be aware of needing or capable of acquiring assistance.
♥ As the colonoscopy test involves anesthesia, patients are required to have a ride after the procedure. To most, this is also includes a ride to the procedure as well. Cabs and other ride services are insufficient. Assisted preparation requirement could be policy improvement.
♥ An informal limited survey of doctors shows the majority are readily aware of extreme dehydration and lowering sodium effect of Prepopik®; therefore, they do not use it. A patient needs emergency medical services if dehydrated.
♥ "Dehydration" as potential side effect could mean dehydration severe enough to threaten organs and life, not just minor dehydration a sports drink or water consumption can solve.
♥ "Medical assistance" reference on prescription or instruction documents ought to include, "Call 911 for emergency services." A clearer version phrased, "Call 911 before you die."
RXProCon believes improved clarity of such document wording is a must. Time permitted, and once caught up with other obligations, RXProCon will release recommended improvements and rewording, but not today.
Summary: Don't prep for a Colonoscopy or Colonography alone.
Pets do not qualify as prep assistance providers.
If you are interested in RXProCon, want to back it, want to stay informed by it, please contact via email at INTERESTin @ RXProCon. com (This is not an email link, you need to type it in yourself, no spaces. Not fancy, but simple way to limit bots and spam.)
* Colonography is an imaging version of a colonoscopy. As it does not involve use of a deep probe, some view colonography as less risky than a colonoscopy. No medical procedure is ever 100% "risk-free." If a colonography detected a growth such as a polyp, it is very likely that the doctor would urge the patient to undergo a colonoscopy. Both tests currently require effectively the same preparation of clearing out ones colon / digestive track, so preparation risks exist for both procedures.
There are cases where colonoscopy probes perforated the colon, which can lead to serious injury or death. There are views that there is vast underreporting of contaminated colonoscopy probes.
Articles on Colonoscopy Contamination - Medical Scope Infections
Los Angeles Times Hospitals and device makers still struggle to rid medical scopes of infectious bacteria
Los Angeles Times Number of deadly infections from dirty scopes is far higher than previously estimated
View RXProCon Ongoing | View RXProCon Prescription #2
This is evolving and work in progress. Maybe that makes it not a BETA version, but a DELTA version.