PwP : Medication Timing Errors & Hospital Dangers

[aspergerian]

Medication Timing Errors for Parkinson's Disease: Perspectives Held by Caregivers and People with Parkinson's in New Zealand.

Parkinson's Disease, 2010.

hindawi.com/journals/pd/201...

See also:

Hospital Dangers for Patients With Parkinson's.

newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com...

[aspergerian]

Although I had tried several searches, I just now found this thread.

healthunlocked.com/parkinso....

[parkie13]

Hair on my head is standing up. Horrible.

[soup]

These articles interesting but a little elderly now, 2010 and 2013. Is there any more recent data from NZ or annual comparisons from anywhere else for that matter?

[Donzim]

There are so many problems for PD patients upon entering the hospital that the Parkinson Association gives away for free a kit to take with you. There are printed notices explaining that you are not drunk but have PD, stickers to put on the door, the bed, the chart, the nurses' forehead (just kidding)...anything to make them notice.

Many nurses do not have a clue about the necessity of giving PD meds exactly on time or the necessity of using EXACTLY the meds you are used to. Many bad experiences caused me to take the following steps:

1. Meet immediately with the charge nurse as well as the nurse manager.

2. Tell each of them forcefully that your experience in hospital has not been good with regard to meds and timing

3. Tell them you do not expect to have such an experience again and that you are putting them on notice accordingly that you expect

a. The meds to be EXACTLY the brand and dose the patient is used to...if the hospital pharmacy cannot assure you of this, the patient MUST be allowed to take his own personal drugs, regardless of hospital policy

b. The meds MUST be given exactly on time, not five or ten or fifteen minutes later while they tend to other things

You must meet every new nursing shift andquestion the incoming nurse as to whether he/she knows the drill.

the institution must know that they have been forewarned and informed. That way, they recognize the underlying threat of lawsuit and will react accordingly.

You don't have to be rude or unkind but you DO have to exude knowledge not only of the medical issues but a sense of power and commitment should they fall down on the job.

[aspergerian]

Thank you for the practical advice.