Medication Reconciliation Learning Series
Medication reconciliation is the process of creating the most accurate list possible of all medications a patient is taking — including drug name, dosage, frequency, and route — and comparing that list against the admission, transfer, and/or discharge orders. The goal is to ensure that all correct medications are provided to the patient and to prevent unintended changes or omissions of medications at all transition points.
Poor communication of medical information at transition points is responsible for as many as 50% of all medication errors and up to 20% of adverse drug events in the hospital (Preventing Medication Errors, Institute of Medicine, 2006). Each time a patient moves from one setting to another, clinicians should review previous medication orders against new orders, reconciling any differences. When this process does not occur in a standardized manner, adverse drug events may occur.
To address this opportunity, the New England Quality Innovation Network- Quality Improve Organization (QIN-QIO) developed a three–part Medication Reconciliation Learning Series, including: Taking the Best Possible Medication History, The Complete Process, and Opportunities for Care Transition Pharmacists. Certificates of completion are provided to individuals upon successful completion of the lesson and associated post-test. Corresponding tools and resources are available with each lesson.
This training is available free of charge for any interested health care provide.
Thank you to the Connecticut Pharmacists Association for sharing this resource with the state pharmacy associations!