Fam Pract Manag. 2011;18(2):39
Dialogue with patients about over-the-counter medications
My patients usually avoid telling me about any over-the-counter medications or supplements they use. They have a variety of reasons for withholding this information, but most commonly it's because they're afraid of being judged or they believe their prescribed medication isn't working as well as it should. My old approach was to ask them leading questions like, “You don't take any herbals, supplements or over-the-counter drugs, do you?” The predictable answer was almost always “no.”
Now I take a different approach. To obtain accurate information and open a meaningful dialogue with my patients, I use this simple, two-fold approach: First, I start with a non-judgmental statement such as, “Many of my patients find that their prescriptions are expensive or don't work as well as they would like.” Next, I ask, “Do you ever have to skip medications, take over-the-counter medications or use supplements?”
This approach opens an avenue for discussing why the patient is using over-the-counter medications or supplements and which ones.
Go green for the environment and your bottom line
Going green not only helps the environment, but it can in the span of just a few years. Reducing your practice's waste is an easy first step.
One way to reduce waste is by using washable and reusable products. For example, instead of using disposable silverware in your break room, invest in flatware. Paper gowns and exam table covers can be a significant source of waste as well, hurting not only the environment but also your bottom line. Consider using cloth gowns and table covers washed in an eco-friendly detergent. Changes like these may require a small investment up front but will pay for themselves several times over.
Recycling plastic, paper, metal and glass will also reduce the amount of waste your practice is contributing to landfills. Most U.S. cities offer recyclable pickup with the regular waste pickup, and if it's not offered by your city you can hire a recycling company to haul away your recyclables for a small monthly fee.
