standard med times

[afteralltheseyears]

I know when I worked in the hospital there were set med times-ie q day meds were in the am, BID's were at am and hs, etc. We recently instituted standardized med times so unless the Dr orders a med to be given at a specific time (for a medical reason--- "I don't want to get up" isn't a medical reason) the q day meds are given at the first med pass which is at 0500 hours. Of course we're getting lots of crying and gnashing of teeth as they don't want to get up. How do you do it where you are?

[deyo321]

Our med passes are at 0800, 1600, 2000.

[deyo321]

Our med passes are at 0800, 1600, 2000. Even at 0800 I have people who refuse to get up. It is very frustrating that they kick and scream to see the doc and them are none compliant with med times. If a med was very important (not a comfort med), I would call them down after med pass, give the med and reinforce the med teaching and document what I did. We do not change med times for "I don't want to get up". We will change a med time to accomodate a work detail.

I do not call in a second time for Motrin if they do not come to the door. I will call in a second time for abx, etc. And do the above once if it is a heart, BP, seizure, etc. med. Then let the doc know and then it is up to him/her to change a time. Always document refusal and teaching (duh) but espescially in our litigation happy IM's.

[uraqt2]

Our med pass times are 0400, 1000, 1500 and 1800. Our med passes are adjusted around counts and feeding. If an inmate doesn't want to get up isn't a reason to change the times. We will only change a time if it's related to a work schedule or if the medication itself has to be given at specific times. We educate the inmate, document, and notify the provider of any non-compliance issues. If the med isn't critical we get the med d/c'd. If the med is critical the inmate may be admitted to the infirmary or monitored out on the units. If anything should occur such as the inmate is suppose to be taking a seizure med and they refuse several times then they have a seizure we will charge them for a self inflicted injury. Plus they can be taken off specialty clinic and be billed for every visit until they comply with the policies. The inmates do have a right to refuse treatment; however, documentation is extremely important.