Taking the wrong medication, taking too much or too little or even not taking your medication at all often leads to unhealthy management of your medication.  This could lead to falls, blindness, high glucose, high blood pressure, a host of issues and hospitalization.  Whatever medications you take, you must be reminded to be overly careful to take them as ordered by your physician.  Most often this can be challenging when you are taking multiple medications.

Recently we wrote an article on medication management and the stress and confusion that sometimes can create missed dosing or overdosing.  For my mom it became a matter of us trying to locate a solution that allowed us to plan and schedule her medicine without worsening any of her conditions.  It was imperative that we got this right. We needed something simple enough that any of us could use it to plan her schedule and refill her pillbox.  When I found PillMap, I saw that it was not a pillbox or even a substitute for a pillbox.  It was an “accessory” for the pillbox that made refilling the pillbox easy because it was a way to see and organize the pills that mom was taking and using this map to refill her pillbox took the pain and labor out of this weekly chore.

PillMap was her personalized lifesaving medication guide that outlined her exact medication schedule at a glance.  Granted it looked too simple to be effective but it was.  I think sometimes that’s all we need.  Something we didn’t have to put a whole lot of thought into.  This guide allowed Mom to share her medications with her doctors as well.  We often teased Mom because she carried around this tattered medication list in her wallet that wasn’t often updated. It was this worn-out gray piece of paper that had been folded 100 times, and we held our breaths each time she opened it because it was literally falling apart because of the creases. Fortunately, the hospitals now have connected databases and can see other departments and summaries of visits and can validate the list of current medications being prescribed and taken for other physicians and those she no longer need to take.

The PillMap guide is like a dry erase board that allows you to write and share your medication with caregivers so that you visually organize your medications and have a less likely chance of receiving incorrect medications.  It provides everyone involved with your care the current and complete medication list with description, schedule and dosage which eliminates confusion and mis-medication.

The PillMap guide is not a replacement for a pillbox.  It is an accessory for the pillbox.  It is a visual map that displays each pill, its name, its dosage, purpose, quantity and regimen. The guide or map is a laminated sheet with an erasable pen that shows the medication that you take. It is a visual of each pill and what the pill is for and when to take it.  Because this is a dry erase board, information can be easily added or deleted.

How to use the PillMap

Begin by adding a pill to the enclosure and closing it tightly to ensure each pill stays in its proper place.   Next to each pill you can add the name of the pill, its schedule and quantity. Under the pill name you can add what the pill is for, i.e.: cholesterol or fluid or heart, etc. You can make changes and correct errors because this is a dry erase board that can be easily updated.  When updates are made, the date on the map should be updated as well. 

On the back of the pill map there is space for additional medication information such as injectables, liquids and sprays.  You can also list allergies and other concerns.  A red box is included that provides space to list emergency contact information and below this your doctor, your insurance and pharmacy contact.  PillMap is your personalized medication list that reduces miscommunication and the risk of you receiving the wrong drug.  The guide/map is an accessory to anyone who has a standard or automated pillbox.  It allows you or your caregiver to refill your pillbox easily and without errors. This of course helps everyone involved in your care protect your health.

With PillMap, …the confusion, errors, and stress surrounding multiple pill management is removed.  One less thing to worry about. This small device becomes a lifesaver as it protects you from taking the wrong pills.  There is no reason that you or anyone who cares for you needs to get lost in the uncertainty of your medication and schedules.

This is National Caregiver month and Medication Management is one of the issues high at hand.  All hospitals can tell you…medication mismanagement is a big problem.  So, at a glance this guide allows you and those who care for you to see what kind of medication(s) you are on. 

When you have a solution or device that helps decrease the chance of missing doses or overdosing you take the stress and uncertainty out of taking your pills and when; and having a PillMap guide is a great way to decrease the chances of being hospitalized for pill mismanagement.  

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