About the Safe Use of Prescription Medications

As a project manager with Epic Systems in Wisconsin, Julie Van Puffelen handled many issues in hospital administration. One of Julie Van Puffelen’s areas of experience is patient safety when it comes to the use of prescription medicines.

Many persons are involved in patient safety - perhaps most importantly, the patients themselves. Here are some suggestions for patients when they drop off and pick up prescription medications.

Providing complete information to your pharmacist is vital to the safe use of medications. Inform the pharmacist of every medicine you currently take, including vitamins and herbal supplements, in order to detect possible interactions. 

Learn how many refills are available and be sure you have enough to last until your next visit. Refills are only valid for one year. To avoid running out, call in refills at least one day in advance.

Pay attention when picking up medications. Make sure the name on the label matches your doctor’s instructions and prescribed dosage. Open the bottle and verify the name and dosage on the tablet. If the tablets are blank, ask the pharmacist to show you the bottle that originally contained them, and remember what they look like. If you are given a liquid, learn to identify it by smell.

Take extra care with pediatric medicines. To prevent a dosage error, be sure to inform doctors and pharmacists of your child’s weight.

Communication with your doctor is essential. Be certain that you and your treatment team are on the same page regarding dosages, potential side effects and what to do about them, and what your medications are expected to accomplish.

The Master’s Certificate in Project Management at UW-Madison

After 13 years as a nurse and administrator at Epic Systems, Julie Van Puffelen is continuing her education. Julie Van Puffelen is pursuing a Master’s Certificate in Project Management (MCPM) at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Intended for project managers, team members, and persons involved in process improvement, the MCPM program teaches relevant and immediately applicable skills. It is designed to enhance critical negotiation and communication strategies.

Presented as all-day, in-person classes, the courses present practical knowledge from teachers with extensive industry experience. The curriculum includes five basic courses on such topics as planning, risk management, and exercising influence without direct authority.

Participants take one elective in subjects ranging from Lean Six Sigma to agile project management. A capstone project sums up the learner’s experiences.

The MCPM program is offered by the UW-Madison Center for Professional and Executive Development. To accommodate the schedules of busy professionals, each course is available several times per year. For more information, visit https://advanceyourcareer.wisc.edu/.