Saw a diabetic in March, controlled disease, HbA1c 6.8. He received a visit summary including medications. His metformin read “continue metformin:500 orally once a day, STOP DATE: 06/06/2016.
He did not understand that the “stop date” referred to date he would need refill, and STOPPED metformin in June.
Saw him today, Sept 20 with HbA1c 14, blood sugar>700, Na 128, CO2 20, and admitted him to hospital for hyperosmolar state.
Printing “stop date” on the medication list of the summary needs to be changed to “refill date”. I gather from support that this stop date is a program issue and the techs cannot make the change. This could lead other patients to experience serious harm, even death, and needs to be fixed.
Thank you,
Georgia Newman MD