To view the full text, please login as a subscribed user or purchase a subscription.
Click here to view the full text on ScienceDirect.
Abstract
Objective
To determine the compliance rate in filling outpatient medication prescriptions written upon discharge from the emergency department (ED).
Methods
Emergency department records of children during a 3-month period were examined along with pharmacy claim data obtained in cooperation with the largest insurance carrier in the community (private and Medicaid). Pharmacy claim data were used to validate the prescription pick-up date.
Results
Overall, 65% of high-urgency prescriptions were filled. The prescription pick-up rate in the 0-to 3-year age group (75%) was significantly higher than in the rest of the cohort (55%) (P < .001). Children with private insurance were more likely to fill their prescriptions (68%) compared to children with Medicaid insurance (57%) (P = .03).
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that filling a prescription after discharge from an ED represents a substantial barrier to medication compliance.
To access this article, please choose from the options below
☆An abstract of this study has been presented at the American College of Emergency Physicians Research Forum, Boston, MA, October 2003, and the Emergency Medicine Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, October 2003.
