Sharon has 21+ years of experience as a qualified Emergency Care Nurse registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) and 12+ years as a First Aid Trainer.
She takes pride in FirstAidPro making first aid training available, comprehensive and affordable to everybody.
Webster pack is an unofficial, colloquial name for the product formally known as a Webster-Pak. Invented in Australia, Webster-Paks are simple tools designed to help people organise and manage their medication and dosage, and ultimately make life easier.
What is a Webster-Pak?
You might not immediately recognise the name, but Webster-Paks are so common you’re sure to be able to recognise their appearance. Webster-Paks are those blue plastic containers that people use to organise their medication by the seven days of the week, and by the time of day that each one’s contents needs to be taken.
How to Use a Webster-Pak
Using a Webster-Pak couldn’t be simpler. The pack has 28 clear containers arranged in seven rows, one for each day of the week, and four columns, one for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime. Each dose of medication is placed by a professional in the appropriate container to help the person taking it remember if and when they need to take which medications. All patients have to do is open the appropriate compartment and take the medications within.
There are several accessories which help make a Webster-Pak even more convenient. One major example is the Pil-Bob, a device which can pierce the backing paper of a Webster-Pak, making it easier for people with dexterity issues to access their medication.
Refilling a Webster Pack
Refilling a Webster-Pak is just as easy as using one. All you need to do is open the compartments and sort your medications into the appropriate section for each time and day that you need to take them. You can do this yourself if you feel confident doing so, or you can bring your Webster-Pak with you to the pharmacy when you go to get your medication and ask them to refill the pack for you.
If your prescribing doctor ever makes any changes to your medication, just make sure that you adjust your Webster-Pak’s contents accordingly, adding any new medications into the right sections and removing any medications which you are no longer taking. Alternatively, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist to make these adjustments for you.
How Can I Get a Webster-Pak?
If you are a healthcare professional, your place of work should already have some Webster-Paks available. If not, speak to the person who orders medical supplies and they should be able to locate a supplier for you.
For non-healthcare professionals, Webster-Paks can be purchased from most Australian pharmacies, and the cost is somewhere between $12 and $40 dollars a month. Your prescribing doctor may also be able to provide you with a Webster-Pak.
Webster-Paks can be easily purchased online. However, getting one directly from a doctor or pharmacy is the best way to ensure that your pack is filled correctly.
Blister Packs: An Alternative
Similar to a Webster-Pak, a blister pack is a medication pack system that contains individually sealed compartments to help individuals remember when to take the right medicine at the right time. Both are designed to improve medication adherence and safety by providing a visible reminder to take the medication and by securely sealing the medications within each compartment based on the prescribed dosage time.
The key differences are the materials these medication packs are made of and their reusability. Blister packs are typically made of plastic, with a foil or paper backing sealed to protect the individual blisters. They are disposable and best used for those on short term medication regimens.
While disposable Webster-Paks are available, typically they are made of sturdier materials. This makes them perfect for those taking multiple medications or who are taking medication over a longer period of time.
Enhance Your Medication Management
As you can see, there’s nothing more helpful to medication management than a Webster-Pak. Medication adherence is vital to patient heath, so whether you’re a healthcare professional or just someone interested in learning more about using Webster-Packs for stricter medication adherence, the key is to book medication management training. Book a medication administration course, with First Aid Pro today.
