Eliminating medication reconciliation errors

JCAHO recently released a new alert that urges intensified attention to the accuracy of medications given to patients as they transition from one care setting to another, or one practioner to another.

According to the alert, medication reconciliation should occur whenever a patient moves from one location to another in a healthcare facility; or from one healthcare facility to another or to home; and/or when there is a change in the caregivers responsible for the patient.

Last year, United States Pharmacopeia received more than 2,000 voluntary reports of medication reconciliation errors and an Institute of Medication report estimates more than 7,000 deaths per year in hospitals due to medication errors. Most of the medical errors resulting in death were due to a breakdown in communication, and approximately half would have been avoided through effective medication reconciliation.

To reduce the risk of reconciliation errors, JCAHO advises organizations to:

* put the list of medications in a highly visible place with information about dosages and schedules
* reconcile medications at each interface of care
* communicate a complete list of patient medications to the next service provider
* provide patients with a complete list of medications they will take after being discharged, with instructions on how long to take them