A report out today by a coalition of medical and consumer groups concludes poor adherence to medications among patients with multiple chronic conditions has reached "crisis proportions" in the U.S. It leads to "unnecessary disease progression" and complications and too many emergency room visits, hospitalizations and avoidable hospital re-admissions, says the National Council on Patient Information and Education. "We see people again and again and again for conditions that are treatable," says Dr. Jim Bailey, an internist at a Memphis hospital's outpatient clinic. "Patients don't want to admit they can't afford their medications."
