I find that simple solutions to complex problems are often the best. So, I was happy to take care of a patient who had invented a simple way to keep track of all her medications. I thought her simple idea was brilliant. I wanted to share it. So, after getting her permission, I posted it on Twitter. I never anticipated the response that her idea would get.
For those of you who are not familiar with Twitter, take a look at the line just underneath the post. This post was viewed by over 1.1 million people. It was re-tweeted 2,305 times and ‘liked’ by almost 17,000 people. Here’s the link: Twitter Link Obviously, this simple idea resonated with people. Here’s why I think it was so helpful.
Why is this idea so innovative?
I’ve gone through all the comments and have summarized 5 reasons why I think this simple idea is so helpful.
It’s simple. Just a few materials. No fancy app to download. No password to remember. Just a simple solution using everyday materials we have around the house.
It’s interchangeable. The ring binder aspect is key. When your medications change, just remove the card and put it in the ‘no longer taking’ pile. You don’t have to write the name of the medication over and over again.
Also, if you start at a lower dose and change to a higher dose, the clinician can see the different doses that were tried.
It’s full of useful information. The patient wrote “blood sugar” and “blood pressure” on each card. She later told me that “Atorvastatin” means nothing to her. But, when she writes “cholesterol” on it, it clears up everything. One word. That’s it. For antibiotics, she told me that she wrote the day she started it and the day it ended right on the card. I think that it would also be useful to write the reason why a certain medication was discontinued directly on the card when moving it to the ‘no longer taking’ bundle.
It’s easy to make together. Many patients receive extra paperwork when they pick up medications from the pharmacy. That paperwork often goes into the trash. We can easily repurpose it during downtime during a medical visit.
Some people talked about making these cards with their elderly parents as a bonding activity. Others talked about making them for their non-English-speaking relatives.
It’s so helpful to clinicians. Many people in the medical community who take care of patients felt that this could really enhance patient care. Often, patients may visit different hospitals and clinics that are not in the same system, so the information is less accessible. Other times, they may be visiting from elsewhere. Having this information is really helpful. Also, this could easily fit into a purse or backpack, so it would always be with you.
How do they do it outside the US?
This post reached many friends across the world. I was curious how patients keep track of their medication in places outside the US. I learned that in Japan, they keep a “medicine notebook.” Dr. Tad shared his thoughts that digitization would be more helpful, but the elderly seem to like these simpler ‘passports.’
Who was this brilliant patient?
Several people were curious. They asked, “Who came up with this great idea?” People guessed that she was a nurse, or an engineer, or a scrapbooker. Someone felt that she was someone who adheres to the KISS philosophy (Keep It Simple Stupid).
I did reach out to this patient afterward (she is not on Twitter and wishes to remain anonymous). I had the pleasure of meeting her for coffee and finding out more about her. She is, in fact, a retired 1st-grade teacher and a reading specialist. She told me that both of her sons were diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus I at young ages. She knew that she had to be organized to care for them. For the first year, she kept a journal of everything they ate to make sure their sugar was under good control. Later, she took care of her elderly mother and had to figure out a way to manage all of the medications she took. So, she came up with this useful system to keep track of everything.
When I met her after this post, she was surprised. She said that she didn’t think that her idea was so innovative. It was just something she did out of necessity. She told me that she believes that people, in general, should take responsibility for their health and encourages everyone also to do the same.
I think this sums up our overall sentiments about her idea.