Sending meds with family

[GLORIAmunchkin72]

What's the best and most acceptable way to send meds with family?

Suppose they're taking their loved one for a 10 day trip. The resident has before breakfast, after breakfast, noon, mid afternoon, evening and bedtime meds. How would you send them?

[loriangel14, RN]

Our pharmacy will make up the needed medications in individual bottles with instructions for administration.We have also made up our own bottles on tjhe floor if they were just going for a day or something.

[pfongk]

The two main ones I've seen here are webster packs or MPS rolls. We use them so that non-licenced people are able to give medications at least fairly safely.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

You can buy a pill sorter that is Sunday-Monday and has little boxes for AM/Noon/late/HS. Two of those with meds already sorted would be easiest for all involved, I think.

Have the family members buy 2 of these, and presort them for the patient. :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/281529166397?lpid=82&chn=ps

[NurseMellie]

If they are going for just a day or so, we use small envelopes that we write the meds on and what time. If they are going to be gone longer, we may send the card from the pharmacy depending on how many doses are needed. You can also use the pill boxes mentioned by another poster. You want to make sure you send a MAR that's easy for the family to read.

[GLORIAmunchkin72]

I appreciate everyone's input. Just trying to find a good and acceptable way to send meds with family when they're planning an extended trip. Sending 40 or 50 little envelopes just doesn't seem right.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I thought that legally meds had to be in a pill container and labeled. I didn't think you could send prescription meds in envelopes. I would check into that. If they are going somewhere and say they were flying where it would be possible their bags would be searched I wouldn't have them in an envelope.

[MN newbie]

Check with your pharmacy, we can only put 72 hrs worth of meds in envelopes. If more we contact the pharmacy and they package up the correct amount of meds to send in bottles etc.

Also check with the billing office.

If they are covered under Medicare A they can't be gone that long, if under Medical Assistance, they would also lose eligibility.

The reasoning is if they are well enough to be gone for that long, they don't need the assistance. Other places also have limitations on how long they can be gone.

Families don't always know those regulations,

[GLORIAmunchkin72]

"Families don't always know those regulations:

Neither did I.

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

All of our resident medications are robotics packed.

Robotic pill dispenser makes life easier for pharmacists... | Stuff.co.nz

Unlike in the photo they come in a nice tidy roll. Each packet is pre sealed, it has the patients name, time of dose, the name and dose of the medication and how many pills the person is taking. Sending away 10 days worth however could be open for confusion. I would tend to go with something more like this Porirua Pharmacy (1986) Ltd | Blister Pack

[wanderlustnurse88, RN]

We have those prepackaged rolls. They are great. Sometimes I can't get them open and need to use scissors and other times it rips open the next package. I find it mor convenient than blister packs.