Spring 2023 Newsletter
Trinity Pullam, MSN, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Arkansas State University
What is Medication Reconciliation?
Medication reconciliation is the process of obtaining, assessing, and managing a current list of all medications that a patient is taking. (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2023). When a patient is admitted to a hospital, they will be asked about their current medications. The patient will be asked to provide the names of medications, the dose, how often medications are taken, and the route the medication is delivered. This list provides the physician and healthcare staff important information about a client’s medication routine. The physician can assess currently ordered medications and choose which medications the patient should be on. This process should happen at admission, anytime a patient moves from one level of care to another, and at discharge. The goal of medication reconciliation is to provide the patient with the correct medications throughout the hospital stay (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2023).
Why is It Important?
This list will be used on admission by the physician for evaluation and to assist in choosing the correct medications. This is especially important for older patients as they are more likely to have multiple medications and health issues, and thus, are at increased risk for an adverse drug event. An adverse drug event is unexpected harm caused by medication (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). The use of medication reconciliation at any care transition is an effective way to reduce adverse drug events (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2023). Patients in the hospital often need adjustments to their medication routine based on their current conditions. This process may continue if home care is provided or at the primary provider’s office. Despite the importance of making correct medication choices, if a physician does not have access to a current and accurate medication list, the patient is at risk for adverse medication events ( Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2019).
How Can I Improve the Process?
To ensure that healthcare providers are able to choose the best medications for you, it is important for them to have access to an up-to-date list. Here are some strategies that you can follow to ensure that this is possible.
Carry a list of medications
- Include all herbs, supplements, and over the counter medication
- Keep this with you in your purse or wallet so it is always available
- Update your list any time a medication is changed
- This will ensure an accurate medication list is always available.
Make sure that your primary provider is informed of any medication changes
- As you age and may need to see multiple providers, it is important to inform your primary physician of any changes made by your specialists
- This ensures that your medication history is available to you or other providers
Use the same pharmacy for all prescriptions.
- The pharmacists will have access to all current medications and medication allergies
- A list can be obtained from the pharmacy of all medication orders
- When new medications are ordered, the pharmacist can identify any potential issues, contraindications, or interactions.
References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2019, September 19). Medication reconciliation. https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/medication-reconciliation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, September 28.). Medication safety basics. Medication Safety Program. https://www.cdc.gov/medicationsafety/basics.html
Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (2023). Medication reconciliation to prevent adverse drug events. https://www.ihi.org/Topics/ADEsMedicationReconciliation/Pages/default.aspx