After suffering an event such as stroke that takes us to the hospital we can become overwhelmed with all of the instructions we are given in an effort to help us get better.
It is very important to have a support system such as a spouse, friend or caregiver to help us cope with these times and help us remember what we are supposed to do once we are home.
Medications are an important part of helping to recover from, and preventing further problems with our health conditions.
That is why you and your caregiver need to be prepared in the event that a trip to the hospital or to a health care professional that you haven't seen before should be necessary.
Following are some measures you can take to help ensure that you receive the best medications for your condition:

• When being admitted to hospital or seeing a doctor who doesn't know you it is vital that all involved in your care know exactly what medications you have been taking, and at what dose, in as quick a manner as possible.
  You can ensure this happens by carrying with you a medication list that is accurate and up to date and includes ALL of the medications you are taking (including any herbal or vitamin medications that you may be taking that don't require a prescription).
  Your pharmacist can help you make your list and will often have a card or booklet that has been designed to hold such a list.
  The medication card or booklet also indicates any allergies and medical conditions you may have.
  Be sure you carry your medication list with you at all times as we never know when we may need to see a doctor or other health professional other than our own!
• It is important for you to understand as much as you can about your drug plan coverage.
  Whether you are covered by your work insurance or by a government sponsored drug plan it is vital to not have any "surprises" should you need medications that aren't "normally" covered by your plan.
  In some cases exceptions will be made for coverage of certain medications.
  Knowing how your drug plan works may help you save valuable time in obtaining needed medications when you require them the most.
  
• While in the hospital for a condition such as stroke, you will likely be prescribed additional medications by your doctor.
  It will help your pharmacy fill your prescriptions exactly as ordered if they know before you arrive what medications you will be needing.
  At times the pharmacy will need to order in the medication if they have not given it to another patient before.
  Other times the medication may require special paperwork to be filled out in order for it to be covered by your drug plan.
  If possible, you should ask the nurse to fax the prescription over to your pharmacy so that the prescriptions can be ready and all the paperwork taken care of before you arrive.
  If you are given your prescription before leaving the hospital you could ask your caregiver to take it to the pharmacy before you require your medication.
  This is especially important if you are going to be discharged from the hospital at a time when your doctors are no longer available to make any changes to the prescriptions they have written or when it is more difficult for pharmacies to readily acquire drugs that are used less often (e.
  g.
  , weekends or evenings).
  As you receive your medications be sure to ask for a new and updated medication list!

As our population continues to age, our healthcare system continues to get busier.
Taking personal responsibility for our care is becoming more and more important.
We can ensure that we get the medications that the doctor has intended us to take by being proactive when receiving new prescriptions and making sure that the doctor knows exactly what we have taken in the past.
Take responsibility by knowing the rules and conditions of your drug plan, carrying an up to date and accurate medication list, and informing your pharmacy ahead of time of any prescriptions you will need! We all need to take responsibility for improving our health care system!