Medication Basics
A preventable mistake in prescribing, dispensing, administering, or monitoring a drug.
What is a medication error?
The use and purpose of psychotropic medications
What is treating mental health or behavioral disorders?
Weight gain, sedation, or movement disorders.
Name a common side effect of antipsychotics.
This professional is responsible for ensuring that informed consent is obtained before a child starts a psychotropic medication.
Who is a social worker?
By keeping a written record of prescriptions, doses, and changes, caregivers and social workers use this tool to reduce duplication and errors.
What is a standardized medication log or MAR?
A common cause of medication errors.
What is miscommunication or incomplete medical history?
At least one type of psychotropic medication.
What are antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, or anxiolytics.
This benzodiazepine, often prescribed short-term for anxiety or panic disorders, carries a risk of dependence if used long-term.
What is Clonazepam (Klonopin)?
When a child in foster care moves to a new placement, social workers prevent medication errors by immediately transferring this essential documentation.
What is the child’s medical/medication history?
Reason why it is important to document med changes immediately
What is to avoid duplication, errors, or missed doses?
Something that should always accompany a child's medication in out-of-home care
What is a current medication administration record (MAR)?
Someone who must give informed consent for a minor’s psychotropic medication in foster care.
Who is the legal guardian or court?
This stimulant, commonly prescribed for ADHD, may cause side effects such as decreased appetite, trouble sleeping, and increased heart rate.
What is methylphenidate (Ritalin/Concerta)?
By checking in regularly with caregivers and children, social workers help track these, which can include drowsiness, weight gain, or tremors.
What are side effects?
Regularly checking in with caregivers about side effects and proper administration is an example of this type of proactive safety practice.
What is medication monitoring?
True or False: Over-the-counter medications don’t need to be tracked.
What is false?
Before starting a psychotropic medication, prescribers should always obtain this type of written permission.
What is the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Prescribing Psychotropic Medication Children in Out-of-Home Care Medical Report?
Increased aggression, lethargy, or extreme mood shifts.
What behavior change might signal a reaction to a psychotropic drug?
Before a child can begin taking psychotropic medication, social workers must ensure caregivers receive clear explanations of benefits, risks, and alternatives so they can provide this type of permission.
What is express and informed consent?
To ensure safe prescribing, social workers, caregivers, pharmacies, and physicians must engage in this process of clear and consistent communication.
What is cross-checking or care coordination?
The process of verifying a person’s medications at each transition of care.
What is medication reconciliation?
SSRIs are the most common first-line treatment for this type of disorder, which includes panic attacks and excessive worry
What is anxiety?
True or False: All side effects appear right after the first dose.
What is false?
False—social workers must follow up and report too.
True or False: It’s the caregiver’s responsibility to report medication concerns.
Using this, instead of kitchen spoons, to measure liquid medication.
What is a dosing syringe or medication cup?