To study the realities of medications that patients fail to pick up, we devised a system of countermeasures for medications that are not picked up by new and returning outpatients. We then compared the countermeasures before with the countermeasure after using our plan. For new outpatients, we routinely telephoned them after work. If there was no answer, then we sent them a letter by mail at the start of next day's work. For returning outpatients, we sent them a letter by mail similar to that sent to new outpatients if not received within a week. At the same time, we placed a notice on the chart in order to request that the doctor contact the outpatients.
As a result of these countermeasures, for new outpatients, the rate of abandoned medicines decreased from 54% to 38%. For returning outpatients, there was a significant decrease from 26% to 10%. No medications were abandoned as result of these notices. The cooperation by doctors, pharmacists and secretaries made this countermeasure plan a success.
