Understanding the proper way to take a prescription medication to get the best result can be challenging at any age. The older a person gets, however, the tougher the challenge can become. Experts say between 75% and 96% of older patients acknowledge that they frequently make mistakes with their medication.

A Blessing Health Hannibal patient was in that group, but not for long thanks to the skill, knowledge, commitment and passion of medical assistant Erin Blacketer. Erin is a member of Dr. Lawrence Nichols’ family medicine care team.

“When I heard what was happening, it kind of blew my mind,” she said. “I knew I needed to get the patient in here and get this figured out.”

What Erin heard from a coworker was that one of their patients was discharged after a hospital stay with a new diagnosis of diabetes without understanding what they needed to do to care for themselves.

“I came to learn the patient was poking their finger with an insulin pen and thinking that they were checking their blood sugar by doing that,” Erin said. “The patient was confused about the two different actions – checking their blood sugar and injecting their insulin.”

Without help, the patient’s diabetes would most likely become uncontrolled. Complications of uncontrolled diabetes can include heart disease, stroke and kidney damage.

Before her patient faced an emergency, Erin asked the patient - and their spouse - to come see her. 

“Once we sat down and started talking, it was apparent they were both very confused,” Erin said.

It took two-and-a-half-hours of education and demonstration about how to properly test blood sugar and use an insulin pen. But when the grateful couple left, they both knew what to do to care for the patient’s diabetes.

The patient’s spouse gave Erin a hug as they left.

“I realized what our meeting had done for them,” Erin said. “I was happy and more at ease knowing that one more of my patients understood their health and how to make it better.”

“Everyone needs someone,” she concluded. “If I can be that person – to help educate another about how to take better care of themselves – that’s what I have been educated to do and I will share my education. That’s what I am here to do. It’s my desire and passion to help and care for people in need.”