According to the National Institutes of Health, the average older adult takes approximately four prescription medications every day, with 40 percent of adults age 65 and older taking five daily medications. Managing medications can be complicated.
Many doctors utilize electronic medical records and may have access to all of the prescription medications prescribed to each patient. This can be helpful as it removes the guessing game and self-reporting necessary to manage prescriptions. It also may help providers avoid giving a medication that can interact negatively with another prescription a patient is already taking. Doctors may initiate conversations with patients about their prescriptions and review which are current and which are not. Patients can go over any questions they may have about their medications. Medical offices also may utilize patient portal apps to facilitate communication and scheduling between patients and providers. Through the portals, people can message their health care teams and ask about medical care and medications, especially if questions come up after an office visit. Such portals are another tool patients can use to take a more active role in their own health care.
