Antibiotics are life-saving treatments for fighting bacterial infections. But when the bacteria becomes unresponsive to the antibiotics, in a way that the medication loses its effects on the patient, then antibiotic resistance develops.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), antibiotic resistance is a public health concern all over the world. It can lead to increasing problems, such as complications, lingering illness, and more visits to the doctor or hospital for a more potent dose. In some cases, antibiotic resistance may also lead to death.
Controlling Antibiotic Intake
Health organizations worldwide are trying to prevent antibiotic resistance by controlling antibiotic intake. For this reason, antibiotics come with a prescription so that they cannot be misused or overused.
This is where prepackaged medications from in-office dispensing facilities can help with curbing antibiotic resistance. If your clinic or health facility practices point of care dispensing, you may:
- Prescribe and dispense the exact number of antibiotics the patient needs. This method can prevent patients from self-medicating with extra or unused antibiotics.
- Monitor the patient’s intake carefully. You can input patient records and prescription refills in the database to keep track of the patient’s compliance with medication.
- Discuss with the patient how to properly take the medication.When you dispense the drugs immediately following the consultation, you can also answer any additional questions the patient may have regarding their prescribed antibiotics.
- Educate the patient about antibiotic resistance. Not all patients know why it is crucial to finish antibiotic therapy. Educating them about antibiotic resistance can further improve their medication compliance.
- Reduce the chances of the patient self-medicating with antibiotics since you can control the number of drugs dispensed.
Antibiotic resistance and patient compliance
Despite the standard guidelines in place to stop patients not adhering to antibiotic therapy, this issue remains a global concern. Some patients discontinue their medications when they start to feel better, while others self-medicate with antibiotics unnecessarily whenever they feel ill.
There are many barriers to medication adherence. A 2014 study has revealed that difficult access to the drug, treatment duration, ingestion problems, and dissatisfaction with the information given by the physician are the main reasons why patients don’t comply with antibiotic treatment. Some of these issues can be addressed by partnering with trusted prepackaged medication providers such as DirectRx.
Prepackaged medications from in-office dispensing facilities are effective means for boosting patient compliance with antibiotic therapy. DirectRx, one of your trusted prepackaged medication providers, focuses on giving physicians efficient ways to provide the best medical care to patients. We make it possible to improve patient care, and we enable physicians to deliver better health services to patients.
Point of care dispensing solutions at DirectRx
DirectRx is one of the best providers of prepackaged medications in the industry. We offer point-of-care prepackaged medication and customized dispensing solutions to healthcare providers.
Whether you are an urgent care clinic, on-site clinic, hospital, work-comp clinic, or physician practice, DirectRx can meet your needs related to an in-office medication dispensing system. Our system is easy to use, providing convenience to clinics and doctors.
Get in touch with us to find out how our expertise as one of the best, prepackaged medication providers can serve your medical practice.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
