Kate Schaddelee
Considerations For Inhaler Use In Hospice
As patients approach the end of life, changes in breathing are common and can impact their comfort and quality of life. While inhalers are often used...
The BetterRX comfort kit is thoughtfully put together to optimize medication use, decrease caregiver confusion and anxiety, as well as simplify use across as many patient demographics as possible.
In these cases, less is more. Below you’ll find considerations for when you’re creating a comfort kit.
The Recommended BetterRX Comfort Kit
1. Less is more
Keep the number of medications to a minimum to decrease confusion.
2. Combine
Choose medications that treat multiple symptoms to avoid the need for multiple comfort kits.
3. Educate
Provide some educational materials to those who may need it.
4. Be resourceful
Utilize medications already at home & know that your contracted pharmacy has same day delivery.
5. Storage
Be sure to utilize and have convenient storage options.
6. Dosing
Make sure there is an ease of dosing and that there are multiple routes of administration if needed.
7. Have substitutions
Make sure substitutions are easily converted to equal dosages.
8. Costs
Keep medication costs in mind and take time to compare costs at different quantities.
BetterRX Comfort Kit Audits
When you sign with BetterRX, we can do a ‘Comfort Kit Audit’ with you to help you reduce product waste!
Additionally, we’ll help you find a local pharmacy so you won’t need to order ‘just in case meds’.
- Morphine 100mg/5ml (20mg/ml): Give 0.25ml (5mg) po/sl every 30 minutes as needed for pain or shortness of breath (may increase up to 1ml (20mg as needed for increased symptoms) #30ml
- Lorazepam 0.5mg tabs: Give 1-tab po/sl/pr every 1 hours as needed for anxiety/agitation or nausea #30 tabs (may give 4 tabs sl/pr every 5 minutes for seizure activity x 5 doses)
- Promethazine 25mg tabs: Give 1-tab po/pr every 6 hours as needed for nausea/vomiting
- BetterRx Terminal Secretion Education for Families: Helps teach families and caregivers how to manage terminal secretions without the need of medication. You can access for free by visiting here.
Note: Lorazepam tablets are recommended instead of the concentrate. This is because the concentrate requires refrigeration and loses potency if left out. The tablets are small and easily absorbed sublingually.
Contact BetterRX
Book a discovery call here to discuss the challenges unique to your hospice.
Have questions? Get in touch with one of our specialists today!
About BetterRX
BetterRX's mission is to radically change patient care by ending medication delays that cause needless suffering. BetterRX offers efficient ordering technology, medication tracking, real-time PPD & cost alerts, and committed local pharmacies. Learn more about BetterRX, our CRX Platform, Better ePrescribe, and Pharmacy tools.
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