Phase 4: Easier to Understand Directions on Prescription Medication Labels

We started phase 4 of the Medication Label Initiative in July 2021. This phase will span three years and focus on making the directions on prescription labels less confusing. The project is called ‘Reducing medication errors: Adopting evidence-based directions for use on prescription labels and is funded by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment based at the Medical College of Wisconsin. 

We will work with healthcare administrators, health information technology professionals, pharmacists, and prescribers across Wisconsin to improve adoption of the Universal Medication Schedule (UMS). UMS uses standard times such as ‘morning’, ‘noon’, ‘evening’, and ‘bedtime’ so that patients know exactly when to take their medications. The use of UMS has been associated with improved adherence to medication therapy and better understanding of how to take medications by patients. 

Please see this flyer for more information on UMS.

Partners: 
Wisconsin Health Literacy and our Medical College of Wisconsin academic partner, Dr Kenneth Schellhase, MD, MPH, will lead the project.

Additional partners include:  
Epic Systems, Wisconsin Medical Society, Wisconsin Hospital Association, Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, Advocate Aurora Health Care, UW Health, UW-Madison School of Pharmacy, and Emory University.