Medication Management and Reconciliation Flashcards
7 cards from real Ambulatory Care Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medication Management and Reconciliation flashcards as text
Which is the recommended method for patients to safely dispose of unused or expired medications at home?
Answer: Use an authorized drug take-back program or DEA-registered collection site
The FDA and DEA recommend authorized drug take-back programs as the safest disposal method to prevent medication misuse and environmental contamination.
A patient on warfarin reports eating large amounts of leafy green vegetables daily. What effect does this have on warfarin therapy?
Answer: Decreases the INR by increasing vitamin K, reducing warfarin effectiveness
Leafy green vegetables are high in vitamin K, which antagonizes warfarin's anticoagulant effect, potentially decreasing the INR and increasing clot risk.
Which strategy has the STRONGEST evidence for improving medication adherence in ambulatory care patients with chronic disease?
Answer: Simplified dosing regimens combined with patient education and follow-up
Evidence consistently shows that simplifying regimens (fewer doses per day), patient education tailored to understanding, and scheduled follow-up together provide the strongest adherence improvement.
Which class of medications is specifically monitored using the Beers Criteria in elderly ambulatory care patients?
Answer: Medications considered potentially inappropriate for older adults due to increased risk of harm
The Beers Criteria is a list of medications considered potentially inappropriate for older adults because the risks outweigh benefits, helping clinicians avoid prescribing them.
A patient is prescribed methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis in the ambulatory setting. Which monitoring parameter is MOST critical for this medication?
Answer: Liver function tests and complete blood count
Methotrexate can cause hepatotoxicity and bone marrow suppression, making regular monitoring of liver function tests and CBC essential to detect toxicity early.
What is the significance of a narrow therapeutic index (NTI) medication in ambulatory care management?
Answer: Small differences in dose or blood level can lead to therapeutic failure or serious toxicity
Narrow therapeutic index drugs require precise dosing because the difference between a therapeutic and toxic blood level is very small, necessitating close monitoring.
Which of the following is the MOST common barrier to medication adherence identified among ambulatory care patients in the US?
Answer: Medication cost and lack of insurance coverage
Medication cost and inadequate insurance coverage are consistently identified as the leading barriers to adherence in US ambulatory care populations, causing patients to skip or ration doses.