Educate Before You Medicate

You are the first line of defense in stopping medication errors! Take personal responsibility for knowing all of the drugs and herbals you're taking. Not only is it good to know what you're taking, but why you're taking it. Having a current list of all your medications when you visit your healthcare provider or pharmacist helps you guard against experiencing one of the 1.5 million medication errors occurring each year in the U.S.

As a public service to consumers in Dallas, Fort Worth, Collin and Denton Counties, the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) -- partnering with area businesses and associations -- has now made it easy for you to keep track of you're medications and dosage levels. Simply click below to download a free form, wallet card and brochure to get you started on managing your medication safety!

• Form -- Easy to fill out, this full-size form downloads and prints in both ENGLISH and SPANISH. All you do is fill it in and carry it with you.

• Wallet Card -- This smaller version of the Medication Safety Form downloads and prints on two sides so you can include allergy and immunization information. Fill it out in ENGLISH or SPANISH, cut along the dotted edges and place in your wallet for safe keeping.

• Medication Safety Brochure -- Good to keep on hand at home, this brochure provides valuable medication safety tips for communicating with your doctor's office, pharmacy, hospital and while you are at home. The brochure is free and downloads and prints in both ENGLISH and SPANISH.

This program, developed by the Patient Safety and Quality Committee of DFWHC, has also been adopted by local volunteer organizations including the American Heart Association, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, CVS/pharmacy, Dallas County Medical Society, Tarrant County Medical Society, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Visiting Nurse Association and Walgreens.

To learn how your organization can join the program, click here. For additional information, please contact Benjamin Jacob at 972-719-4279 or e-mail bjacob@dfwhc.org.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council thanks the South Carolina Hospital Association, the Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medication Errors, AHRQ and JCAHO for sharing their materials. Materials developed by these groups were the basis for the Medication Safety Wallet Card, Medication Safety Form and the Medication Safety Brochure.