Enhancing Medication Communication: A Patient-Centered Approach
February 12, 2025
Effective communication about medications is a crucial part of patient care, ensuring that individuals understand what they are taking, why they need it, and what side effects to expect. At Jefferson County Health Center (JCHC), we recognized an opportunity to improve this process and developed an innovative approach that has made a significant impact on both patient satisfaction and safety.
Recently, Katie Mitchell, Pharmacy Director at JCHC, presented this initiative at the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative (IHC) Patient Safety Conference, highlighting how our team worked together to improve medication education in a way that is engaging, easy to understand, and memorable for patients.
Identifying the Need for Improvement
Patients can feel overwhelmed when receiving information about new medications, and surveys measuring patient perceptions of care—such as the HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) scores—reflected this challenge. Two key areas we aimed to improve were:
- How often staff explained the purpose of a medication
- How often side effects were explained in a way patients could understand
Despite the hard work of our nursing and pharmacy teams, there was room for growth in making medication information more accessible and less intimidating for patients.
Innovative Solutions for Better Understanding
To address these concerns, JCHC took a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach involving pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nursing staff, and medical-surgical managers. Together, we redesigned our medication education process with several key innovations:
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Emoji Index Cards: We created illustrated index cards for the top 40 medications used at JCHC, each displaying the name, purpose, and top three side effects of the medication with easy-to-understand emoji visuals. These cards help patients retain critical information in a simple, engaging way.
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Medication Whiteboards: Placed in patient rooms, these customized boards provide a reference point for both patients and their families, allowing them to review medication details at their own pace.
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Enhanced Pharmacy Team Visibility: To ensure patients know who to turn to with questions, pharmacists now wear white coats, while pharmacy technicians wear scrub jackets or vests embroidered with their names and titles.
A Streamlined Process for Patient Education
When a patient is admitted, the education process begins immediately. New medications are flagged in the medical record, prompting nursing staff to provide information before the first dose is administered. Patients receive either an emoji index card or an informational pamphlet to keep in their room for easy reference. Additionally, pharmacy staff check in daily to answer questions and provide further clarification, ensuring that every patient fully understands their medications.
Positive Impact and Future Applications
Sharing this initiative at the IHC Patient Safety Conference was an exciting opportunity to showcase how innovation can drive better patient outcomes. Since implementing these changes, JCHC has seen significant improvements in both patient satisfaction and HCAHPS scores, demonstrating that clear, patient-friendly communication makes a real difference.
This approach isn’t just valuable in hospital settings—anyone managing medications at home can apply similar strategies. Writing down key details about prescriptions, keeping a list of side effects handy, and asking healthcare providers for clarification when needed are all ways to stay informed and take an active role in personal healthcare.
At JCHC, we are committed to finding new and creative ways to enhance patient care. Our efforts in improving medication communication are just one example of how teamwork and innovation lead to meaningful, positive change.