Patient-administered drugs in a municipal hospital

Abstract

In rehabilitation programs patients are instructed in ambulation, wheelchair skills, and self-care. Self-administration of medication, however, has yet to be adopted as a standard restorative modality. Regular practice sessions correct and reinforce learning and develop safe practice. But within any group of patients with physical impairments, some patients have chronic diseases that require long-term drug therapy. For these persons, accurate self-medication becomes an essential daily activity. Their well-being, over time, may be directly related to their adherence to the drug regimen. Our 30-bed rehabilitation medicine unit is located in a large, innercity municipal hospital. Our patient population has a high incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease, such as stress, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia. Many of these patients have no one at home to assist them. From earlier experience we expect a number of them to be rehospitalized for additional disabling events related to cardiovascular pathology. In 1978, we introduced a pro-