Assessing the Effectiveness of Medication Reconciliation Programs in Reducing Medication Errors

Abstract

Medication reconciliation is a methodical process that comprises comparing the medications listed in the patient record or prescription orders with the most accurate and comprehensive list of the patient's current prescriptions. According to the Institute of Medicine's Preventing Medication Errors report, the average hospitalised patient makes at least one medication error every day. This validates the findings of previous research that the most common patient safety error is a medication error. Over 40% of prescription errors are thought to be caused by inadequate reconciliation in handoffs during patient admission, transfer, and discharge. It is estimated that 20% of these errors are harmful. Many of these errors may be prevented if drug reconciliation protocols were in place. Medication reconciliation is the process of comparing a patient's prescription orders with all of the medications the patient has been taking. This reconciliation is done to avoid prescription errors such as omissions, duplications, wrong dosages, or drug interactions. This should be carried each whenever there is a change in the patient's care, including adding new prescriptions or updating an existing order. Transitions in care could include adjustments to the environment, level of care, practitioner, or service.