Boone County Hospital Staff and Physicians Encourage the Use of File of Life Cards. File of Life cards are free and can be obtained from Boone County Hospital, any physician clinic in Boone County, Home Care Services, Beckwith Family Adult Day Services and other providers within Boone County.
One the most common types of medical mistakes involves medication errors – when patients take too many, too few, or the wrong pills. Medication errors can lead to serious complications, admission to the hospital or even death. However, patients and family members can help prevent medication errors.

Many medication errors occur at “transition points” such as when patients enter the hospital, move from one room to another, or leave the hospital to go home.
Here are ways you can help prevent medication errors at these transition points:

Obtain a File of Life card
You can help prevent errors by knowing about all the medications you take. First, make a list of all your medications by utilizing the File of Life card. You can obtain a free File of Life card at Boone County Hospital, any physician clinic in Boone County, at Home Care Services of Boone County Hospital or at Beckwith Family Adult Day Services. Then bring your File of Life each time you visit a doctor or nurse. Your medication list should include:
• Names of all your medications (include over-the-counter and herbal remedies)
• Dosages (how much you take of each medication)
• Time (when you take each medication)
• Ways you take each medication (such as a pill, patch, or liquid)

Maintain an up-to-date File of Life card by following these steps:

• Ask your doctor or nurse if your list includes all the medications you take now.
• Use a pencil to create your list so you can change the information as needed.
• Change the information on your list each time you start or stop taking a medication.
• Ask your pharmacist to review your medication list and make any needed changes.
• Make sure medications you are taking do not interact with one another. Ask your pharmacist for help if you aren’t sure. You can also look on the Internet for websites that help you figure out what medications should not be taken together. One you may try is www.drugs.com.
• Try to use the same pharmacy for all your prescriptions and refills so your pharmacist can tell you about medications you should not take at the same time.
• Throw away all medications you no longer take.