Make A List - Save A Life

We make a list for shopping, for people to invite to a party, even for household chores. But we usually don’t think about making a list of something that potentially could save our life or the life of a loved one.

Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital – in cooperation with local physicians, clinics and pharmacies – is embarking on a public safety campaign to reach families in Gorge communities with a very important message:

“Make a List – Save a Life.”

This life-saving list includes:
   • All of your current prescriptions
   • Drug dose and frequency
   • Herbal and vitamin supplements
   • Over-the-counter and homeopathic drugs
   • Drug allergies
   • Current medical conditions

Having a current medication list is one of the most important steps patients can take to help themselves and their health care providers, says Stephen Becker, M.D., Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital’s former chief of staff.Once you’ve put together your list, it’s important to keep it updated, to bring it to any doctor or hospital visit, and to make sure your family members and caregivers have a copy. Having this list readily available to doctors could alter thecourse of your treatment significantly.Providence Hood River’s Medical Executive Committee and medical staff endorsed “Make a List – Save a Life” as the top quality improvement and safety project for 2008 and 2009. The goal is to reach and teach everyone in the Gorge about the importance of keeping and carrying a current medication list. In this effort, Providence Hood River now prepares a current medication list for every patient staying at the hospital or visiting its clinics.Attached is your new Personal Medication Record. Please take time to fill it out, fold it, store in your wallet and keep it current.

What You Need To Do:

   • Take charge of your medication list
   • Bring a current medication list to any doctor or hospital visit
   • Update this list as your medications change
   • Ensure your family members and caregivers have a copy
   • If you don’t have a current list, take your medications and supplements to your physician’s office for assistance in creating a list

Cards available at:
   • Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital and clinics
   • Physician clinics
   • Hood River Health Department
   • Senior facilities
   • Gorge area pharmacies

To request a copy, please call 541-387-6295 or download it here.

How A List Could Save A Life:

SCENARIO 1
A patient visits a new doctor. The doctor asks,” What medications are youtaking?” The patient replies “one red pill, two blue ones and a green one.” The doctor doesn’t know exactly what drugs or quantities the patient is taking. Th edoctor needs to treat the patient without critical information. The mixing of drugs can lead to serious side effects.

SCENARIO 2
A patient in injured, ends up in the emergency room and stays at the hospital for a few days. The patient does not have a current medication list. The patient forgets about his high blood pressure medicine at home and fails to mention it to his hospital physician. Hospital staff generates a new drug list for the patient but it does not include the much-needed blood pressure medication. The patient stops taking blood pressure medicine because it is not on the new drug list and becomes very ill.