“Talk Before You Take” is a national awareness campaign launched by the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) to encourage and improve communications between healthcare providers (HCPs) and patients about the benefits and potential risks of prescription medicines.
“Talk Before You Take”—a simple message that conveys the importance of talking about the benefits and risks of prescribed medications before a prescription is written and filled. When healthcare providers convey important information about prescribed medications, there is sometimes no guarantee that patients fully understand both the benefits and potential risks of starting the treatment. As proof, how often do we walk out of a doctor’s office asking, “What did the doctor or nurse say again about this medicine?”
When you talk to your healthcare provider, the following questions can help you understand how your new medicine will affect you before you start taking it. It’s also helpful to keep and share an up-to-date list of all medicines you’re taking with your healthcare providers at every visit.
Visit TalkBeforeYouTake.org to learn more and to view their free, downloadable tools that patients and healthcare providers can use to spark better and more effective medicine communication.
ISMP collaborates with NCPIE on a number of health education programs and supports its initiatives to educate consumers about safe medicine use.
