Medication safety and independence for individuals who are visually impaired should not be a privilege, according to Accessibility.com.
The blog’s author outlines several effective ways accessible prescription labeling needs can be met by pharmacists. Consider sharing this article with your pharmacist or with friends who may have a need for accessible prescription labeling.
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Pennsylvania Representative Daniel Miller has reintroduced the accessible prescription labeling bill HB 89 If passed as introduced HB89 would require pharmacies to provide audible, braille or large font prescription labels to patients who have a visual impairment at no additional cost. The bill was sent to the House Health Committee which is chaired by Representative Kathy Rapp and Representative Dan Frankel.
The bill text is as follows:
(a) Upon request by a consumer, a pharmacy shall make available accessible prescription labels to the consumer for an individual who has a visual impairment at no additional cost, including a label which provides for any of the following:
(1) Audible prescription information.
(2) Prescription information in braille.
(3) Prescription information printed in a high-contrast large font.
(b) The board shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement this section.
A plethora of resources for patients searching for ways to make their hospital stays safer can be found at PatientSafetyMovement.org which is sponsoring a campaign called #UniteForSafeCare. Their resource page includes campaign info graphics, book recommendations and downloadable patient safety guides from the Batz Foundation for before, during and after your hospital visit.