Background and Additional Resources
In this multi-phase project, participating pharmacies in Wisconsin will redesign prescription labels to make them patient-centered by using United States Pharmacopeia (USP) guidelines. This means that the labels will be much easier for patients to read and understand! Click on the links below for more information about the different phases and activities in each.
Phase 1: Potential for Adoption of New Prescription Medication Label Standards in Wisconsin: In this phase, Wisconsin Health Literacy studied the feasibility of implementing United States Pharmacopeia (USP) guidelines in Wisconsin. (Project completed in Fall 2015)
Phase 2 (pilot): Implementation of New Medication Label Standards in Wisconsin: In this phase, Wisconsin Health Literacy partnered with 5 pharmacy organizations to redesign prescription labels using USP guidelines at 64 sites. (Project completed in December 2017)
Phase 3: Expansion of New Prescription Medication Labels in Wisconsin: In this expanded phase, Wisconsin Health Literacy will partner with 15-21% additional pharmacies across the state of Wisconsin to redesign prescription labels using USP guidelines. Pharmacies interested in participating should contact Kari LaScala, Associate Director of Health Literacy: kari@wisconsinliteracy.org or Stan Hudson, Health Literacy Director: stan@wisconsinliteracy.org. (Project ends December 2020)
Wisconsin and Federal Labeling Requirements
WI Chapter Phar 7
WI Chapter Phar 8
WI Chapter 450
Federal Regulations
Journal Articles and other Resources
AHRQ's Explicit and Standardized Prescription Medicine Instructions
Bailey SC et al, Expanding the Universal Medication Schedule: a patient-centered approach
Davis TC, Wolf M et al, Literacy and Misunderstanding Prescription Drug Labels
Institute of Medicine. Standardizing Medication Labels: Confusing Patients Less
Lee, Charles. Patient Understanding: The Cornerstone of Medication Adherence
Smith, Michelle Cruz Jimenez et al. Lost in translation: Medication labeling for immigrant families. (JAPhA membership required)
Thurmer, A. Building a Patient-Centered Medication Label
Wolf M, Bailey, SC. The Role of Health Literacy in Patient Safety
Wolf M et al, To err is human: Patient misinterpretations of prescription drug label instructions
Wood, B. Medication Adherence: The Real Problem When Treating Chronic Conditions
National Libraries of Medicine (NLM) Medline Plus - a consumer health database (Drugs, Herbs, and Supplements category) owned and maintained by NLM
National Libraries of Medicine (NLM) DailyMed - information on drug labeling
Health Literacy Services
Wisconsin Health Literacy offers training and consulting services customized to meet your organizational needs. Trainings focus on the numerous ways that health literacy impacts care delivery, health outcomes, and public health.
Medication Label
Wisconsin Health Literacy is working with a patient advisory council to design easy-to-read medication labels. Our work has impacted over 4 million prescription labels in Wisconsin.
Health Literacy Summit
The Health Literacy Summit is the largest in the Midwest.
Diverse sessions and networking opportunities provided attendees with the opportunity to learn more about health literacy.
Visit our Summit page for more information.