Packaging Accessibility
Pharmacy Packaging and the Patient Experience: Enhancing Accessibility
Today’s diverse and fast-paced world calls for easy and efficient access to medications. For many people with disabilities or limited dexterity, traditional pharmacy packaging can be difficult to open and use which is resulting in a barrier to accessing necessary medication, potentially jeopardizing an individual’s health. There is a need for accessible pharmacy packaging that caters to the diverse needs of individuals of all abilities.
Understanding Accessibility in Pharmacy Packaging
Accessible pharmacy packaging is essential for providing equitable access to medications for people facing a variety of accessibility challenges, ranging from physical and cognitive impairments to visual and literacy barriers.
- Physical Disabilities: Conditions limiting hand function necessitate easy-open vials and blister packaging or pillcards, designed for easy handling while ensuring child safety.
- Visual Impairments: Solutions like Braille labels and large print labeling on medication vials and pillcards help those with sight challenges accurately identify and manage their medications.
- Cognitive Impairments: Multi-dose strip packaging simplifies medication regimens by organizing doses into clearly labeled pouches, minimizing confusion and ensuring proper medication intake.
- Language and Literacy Needs: Offering packaging with multilingual labels and simplified instructions can bridge the gap for individuals who may struggle with the standard packaging information.
Accessible packaging in pharmacies not only champions equal access but also fosters independence, safety, and compliance with medication regimens across various communities.
What Does Accessible Pharmacy Packaging Look Like?
Pharmacy packaging serves a crucial role in ensuring the safe distribution and dispensing of medications. There are several types of accessible pharmacy packaging that have been developed to address the unique needs of individuals living with barriers.
For those with physical disabilities, there is “easy-open” packaging that features larger grips and tabs that make it easier for individuals with limited dexterity or arthritis to open medication containers, blister packaging or pill cards where each dose in its own compartment, making it simple to tell at-a-glance which dose comes next. These types of packaging are also designed to be child-resistant, but still accessible for adults.
Individuals with visual impairments would benefit from Braille labeling, using tactile raised dots to label medication and dosage information. While another option is large print labeling, using larger font sizes and high-contrast colors to make medication information easier to read.
Those who struggle with cognitive impairments benefit from multi-dose strip packaging, ideal for patients who take a variety of medications one or more times per day. Every round of medication is placed in a pouch (or bubble) labelled with:
- National drug code (NDC)
- Medication names and strength
- Dosage
- Date and time of administration
- Barcode for eHR integrations
By putting all the medications into a single “package,” administering them is as easy by simply verifying the time and date and opening the bubble. There are no skipped pills, no AM and PM confusion and no need to check and recheck the number of pills needed for a proper dose. For as-needed medication, pill-in-vial packaging often remains the best packaging choice and is especially convenient for out-on-pass dispensing.
Samuels Products Has the Packaging Options You Need
Accessibility of pharmacy packaging plays a crucial role in ensuring safe and efficient distribution of medication to patients. By providing clear and easy-to-use packaging, pharmacies can improve medication adherence, prevent medication errors, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes. It is essential for pharmacies to prioritize the accessibility of their packaging, promoting inclusivity for individuals with disabilities, allowing them to independently manage their medication.
Let Samuels Products be your single-source supplier for all your accessible pharmacy packaging needs. With quick turnaround and delivery on pill cards, custom printed labels and vials, we help maintain your business’ success and continuity. Samuels Products’ customer service representatives can work with you to develop the best plan for your pharmacy packaging materials to ensure you are placing your orders early, so you are prepared for all your customer’s needs.
