What does medication reconciliation involve?

Medication reconciliation is a crucial process in healthcare that focuses on ensuring that patients receive safe and appropriate medication therapy. The primary goal of medication reconciliation is to create the most accurate list of all medications that a patient is currently taking, including prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements, and vitamins.

This accurate list is then used to compare against any new medications that are being prescribed or changes that may be made to a patient's medication regimen. The reconciliation process helps to identify discrepancies, such as unintended duplications, omissions, or interactions between medications, which can affect patient safety and treatment outcomes.

Creating this comprehensive list ensures that healthcare providers have the necessary information to make informed decisions about the patient's care and to minimize the risk of medication errors. Therefore, the emphasis on accurately identifying and documenting all medications is at the heart of medication reconciliation, making it a vital practice in promoting patient safety and effective medication management.