This week (April 1-7) is Medication Safety Week! Medications, properly administered, are an important part of the care we provide to our patients.  This overview from National Today offers some insight into the history of the holiday and some fun FAQs.

Thanks to Janelle M, our Director of Nursing, for providing some key information on COC’s medication safety policies and processes.

We always ensure medication is properly stowed out of reach of any children, and that nurses are tracking all expiration dates.

Janelle added that a client’s medication must be stored separate from others in the home, and medications must be stored in the original containers with labels.  COC also provides a medication disposal kit.

We know that every client has unique medication needs, and our Controlled Substance Log (available for nurses in our online internal resources) is designed to ensure each dose is carefully recorded and monitored.

One excellent resource for those at home is the DEA Take Back Day, which happens twice a year. This event, which is happening on April 22, was designed to give ordinary citizens a clear time and place to dispose of unwanted or expired medication.

Janelle’s helpful tip for medication disposal is to use cat litter or coffee grounds! Pour the cat litter or coffee grounds into a plastic bag or container. Add crushed pill medication or pour liquid medication in, close the bag or container tightly, and place it in the household garbage.

We treat medication safety with the utmost importance at COC. This is just one of the many ways we provide excellent care to all of our clients and make a measurable difference in their lives every day.

You can learn more about us here. If you would like to join our growing team, you can apply for our open positions or email us. We’re excited to hear from you!

Photo by Alexander Grey from Unsplash.