When is it appropriate to perform a medication reconciliation?

Performing medication reconciliation at every transition of care is essential for ensuring patient safety and continuity of care. Transitions of care encompass various scenarios such as admissions to a hospital, transfers between units or facilities, and discharges back to the community or home. Each of these situations often involves changes in a patient's medication regimen, which could stem from the need for new medications, discontinuation of existing ones, or adjustments to dosages.

By conducting medication reconciliation during these transitions, healthcare providers can verify what medications a patient is taking, identify any discrepancies in the medication list, and minimize the risk of adverse drug events. This process involves comparing the patient's current medication orders to the medications the patient was previously taking, thus ensuring all healthcare providers have accurate and complete information about the patient's medication history.

While performing reconciliation during initial visits is beneficial, it is not sufficient to ensure ongoing patient safety throughout the healthcare journey. Likewise, annual reviews and refills are not comprehensive enough to catch all potential errors that could occur during critical transitions. Therefore, conducting medication reconciliation at every transition of care is vital for maintaining optimal medication management and enhancing patient outcomes.