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BUCKHANNON -- Buckhannon Rotary Club members this week learned the importance of being involved in your own healthcare, including focusing on medication safety.
Annamarie Chidester, vice president of patient care services at WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital, spoke to the group Tuesday. Chidester also gave each member a card to list medications, allergies and details that may be of importance should an emergency occur.
"One of the things we struggle with at the hospital and at the doctor's office is people don't know what medicines they take," she said. "They tell us, 'I take that little white pill for my heart.' But there's probably a thousand white pills for your heart and they're all different shapes and sizes."
Chidester stressed how crucial it is that doctors and nurses know the correct medication that patients are taking when they come in for a visit or an emergency.
"That's why this is so important," she said pointing to the medication card. "This little thing will fit into your wallet. You can list your medicines. And if you come to hospital not feeling well, how good do you think your memory is?"
When an illness or injury prompts a sudden trip to the hospital, Chidester said the card is important so family members and health professionals can be aware of the listed medications and allergies.
"It'll get you faster care, and it's accurate," she said, noting the hospital is pushing for patients to carry a completed card.
The hospital's emergency room, administration area and front information desk will have the cards available, Chidester said.
She added that hospital officials want to make sure that patients are participating in their own care, noting patients should ask questions concerning their health or medication.
"We're trying to include having a family presence for people in the hospital -- not restrict our visiting hours so much that your family isn't there," Chidester said. "We'd like them to be there during report with a doctor around. All those times that we've kind of left people out in the past, we're trying to have people more
involved."