Definitions
In this document (and all our documentation) we will use the phrase Medication Slot to refer to a time of day when medications are taken. For instance, a client might have a "Breakfast Meds Slot". A Medication Session is an instance of a Medication Slot. So you might say "Because Jean has an operation next Tuesday, she should not take her meds in the Tuesday Breakfast Meds Session".
The idea of a medication slot which is distinct from a care booking is not (yet) common practice in care, so it is perhaps appropriate to explain why we have decided to introduce it:
First, fundamentally, a medication plan is not the same thing as a visit plan. Doctors often prescribe medicines to be taken at certain times of day to fit in with circadian rhythms, manage the half life of medication in the bloodstream etc.
If a medication is simply a task on a booking, then if the booking is forced to move over time because of operational pressures, it is possible to lose sight of when the medication administration is meant to happen.
Furthermore, not every medication requirement will have an associated care worker visit - at least some medication may be taken by the client when they are alone, or perhaps prompted by family members. However, care providers might still need to have a record of the full medication plan.
Plait automatically links medication to the nearest visit, so in the end the effect is actually very similar to adding medication directly onto the visits, but with the advantages above. When visit times are changed, it may be that medication ‘jumps’ from one visit to another, according to which is closest to the intended slot - this all happens automatically and ensures medication is administered as close to the ideal time as possible.
Configuration of Medication Slots
Medication slots are configured on the Medication tab of the client record. Slots can be added by clicking on the Add button at the bottom of the Medication Slots section. Each slot comprises a description (which will appear both on the client calendar and on the mobile app), one or more time sets - which tell the system what the target time for taking the medication is, and what date that is the slot time from. Slots which are no longer relevant will also have an end date in the Until field
Once a time has been specified the New Time button becomes enabled.
If the meds for a particular slot are no longer required, the slot can be finished.
Once the slots have been set up, the prescriptions can be added on the first session (ie, instance of a slot) for which they should be administered. If you are not using Plait for scheduling, then you access the session by clicking on the session in the calendar:
If you are using Plait scheduling then this is also the means of accessing a session unless it is matched to a visit - in that case you click on the pill in the top right corner of the visit:
