View clinical trials related to Medication Reconciliation.
Filter by:Background: Transitions of care often lead to medication errors and unnecessary healthcare utilisation. It has been repeatedly shown that medication reconciliation can at least partially reduce this risk. Objective: The aim of this prospective pragmatic trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacist-led medication reconciliation offered to medical patients as part of routine clinical practise. The main questions to be answered were: - the effectiveness of pharmacist-led medication reconciliation on medication discrepancies at discharge and 30 days after discharge - the effectiveness of pharmacist-led medication reconciliation on healthcare utilisation within 30 days after discharge. Participants in the intervention group were offered the following: - medication reconciliation on admission - medication reconciliation on discharge, coupled with patient counselling, provided by clinical pharmacists. Participants in the control group were offered standard care.
Up to 50% of medication errors and 20% of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the hospital setting are estimated to be related to communication issues regarding patient medications at various transition points of care from admission to discharge. The Joint Commission (TJC) requires accurate and complete medication reconciliation occur at each transition point throughout hospitalization. Evidence from NQF demonstrates pharmacists (RPh) are the most effective medication management team leaders in the implementation of medication management practices and design of medication error reduction strategies; medication reconciliation is one of the five safety objectives pharmacists are recommended to lead. In addition, the Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors states strong evidence supports the use of pharmacy technicians (CPhT) in conjunction with pharmacists in completing accurate medication histories. WMC nurses (RN) currently are involved in the medication reconciliation process. In 2009, a Medication Use Evaluation (MUE) of Medication Reconciliation Accuracy found a 67% medication error rate on admission determined by comparing the nurse-obtained medication history to the pharmacist-obtained medication history. The number of home medications identified by the pharmacist compared to the nurse was 411 versus 312 (p<0.0001). The total percentage of medication errors prevented by the pharmacist was 66.2. Using the VA Healthcare Failure Mode Effects Analysis - HFMEA™ Hazard Scoring Matrix, 3 independent pharmacist reviewers found that 18% of patients interviewed had a score greater than 7, and 3 patients had a score of 12 (major/probable), if the discrepancies would not have been identified and corrected by the pharmacist conducting the admission medication reconciliation audit. The same patients' discharge medication reconciliation and discharge medication lists were retrospectively reviewed for the MUE, and the total percentage of patients with medication errors on discharge was 43%.