FAQ's
Here are some common FAQ's we get about the Tailored Meds service if you have a question for us then please do not hesitate to contact us.
DOES THE PHYSIOTHERAPIST HAVE TO BE A PRESCRIBER TO PROVIDE THE TAILORED MEDS SERVICE?
No they do not. The physiotherapist provides their expert diagnosis which gives the doctor better information to prescribe more appropriate medication. The doctor has complete autonomy in the medications they prescribe. The physiotherapist acts within the scope of their practice and so does the doctor. The physiotherapists knowledge of pain mechanisms lead to a more accurate choice of medications by the doctor. Considering GP waiting lists the service is more accessible, and ran alongside rehabilitation which improves monitoring and decreases over reliance. This makes the service safer, more convenient and more effective.
HOW IS THE MEDICATION TAILORED TO ME?
The medication is matched to a specific diagnosis which is submitted by a physiotherapist. The diagnosis looks at the severity, irritability as well as the mechanism of pain you are experiencing. It also looks at the level and cause of inflammation, hypersensitivity and neuropathy. The Tailored Meds service uses complex algorithms, developed by Fit2Go, to rate these categories considering multiple factors and variants. This allows the medication to be tailored to you to improve safety and effectiveness.
WHAT PAIN MEDICATION IS PRESCRIBED?
Prescribed and over the counter pain medication is provided depending on the assessment from your physiotherapist. This includes controlled and injectable pain medication if deemed appropriate.
DO MEDICATION AND HOLISTIC PAIN MANAGEMENT WORK TOGETHER?
​They absolutely do! Part of the problem with over-medication is a result of seeing it as a singular modality. This has fuelled a medication dependent society which leads to high chronic caseloads. A short course of pain medication can serve as a great adjunct to holistic rehabilitation. By marrying up the two, this serves to revolutionise the approach to pain relief and management.
HOW DOES TAILORED MEDS HELP THE NHS?
As the backlog in patient cases is a record high, the main objective is to offload these patients from primary care, so they do not have to see their GP. As the aim of Tailored Meds is to fully rehabilitate patients using a holistic approach, this will stop them from over medicating and becoming over reliant saving time and money to the NHS. Patients pay for their medication privately (similar to a standard physio treatment charge) then they pay for 24hr delivery to their home or work address.
IS THE SERVICE TAKING AWAY FROM THE NHS BASED ON PRESCRIPTION CHARGES?
​Less than 2% of NHS funding comes from patient charges (OHE 2013) meaning the money will be saved on time which is the main cost to the NHS
IS TAILORED MEDS A LONG TERM SOLUTION?
Tailored Meds is designed to facilitate the patient into more of a holistic approach to pain management. The idea is that the Tailored Meds service is the first point of call for existing or newly arising pathologies.
HOW DOES TAILORED MEDS AND FIT2GO WORK TOGETHER?
The Tailored Meds service is hosted on the Fit2Go platform which facilitates the tracking, monitoring and educational features of the service. As Fit2Go also has a Body Screening service, they work together to provide an innovative service from start to finish.
IS TAILORED MEDS SAFE?
Safety is a huge priority for Tailored Meds. Multiple safety checks are made throughout the diagnosis, prescription and dispensing process. Also, by needing to complete two consultations – one with a physiotherapist and the other with a qualified doctor, there are two key safeguarding elements to detect any medication misuse or risk factors. Furthermore all orders are given an SCR check before dispensing. This ensures the medication is safe and appropriate for the patient. In terms of privacy, Tailored Meds take the privacy of all patients extremely seriously and do not share any medical data with other third parties. Medical notes are only accessible by a doctor or pharmacist.