Adopting patient-centered prescription medication labels in Wisconsin

A White Paper entitled “Adopting Patient-Centered Prescription Medication Labels in Wisconsin” is now available for free download at bit.ly/MedLabel. As an option, printed copies of the White Paper can be requested by providing name/address to healthliteracy@wisconsinliteracy.org.

In 2013, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) released a set of evidence-based guidelines for patient-centered medication labeling. Wisconsin Health Literacy collaborated with the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Pharmacy to determine barriers and facilitators to the adoption of these guidelines for patient-centered medication labeling. The White Paper discusses the awareness, attitudes, and recommendations of Wisconsin pharmacy stakeholders towards implementing these USP standards on a voluntary basis in Wisconsin. Key stakeholders included pharmacists, physicians, and software vendors. As a result of this White Paper, a second project, funded by Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program, is now underway to implement these standards in 3 pilot pharmacy systems in hopes of improving patient medication use and ultimately, patient health.