System Improvement
Standardizing the Process of Electronic Medication Reconciliation
Lorraine Le Stephens
Eastern Kentucky University
Abstract
Electronic medication reconciliation is defined as a process in which a complete and accurate list of current medications is generated into a database and is stored as in the patient’s records (Wilson, Murphy & Newhouse, 2013). This process includes collection of medication history, ensuring the medication’s dose and instructions are appropriate, and making changes to the medication list (Wilson et al., 2013, p. 311). Precise medication reconciliation is important in all setting especially in outpatient oncology because many of these patients have multiple health issues requiring multiple treatment. The process of medication reconciliation is done by a designated healthcare provider and without standard of practice, complete and accurate medication reconciliation would not be obtain. Therefore, implementing a standardize process that clearly defines nursing and physician’s role would allocate accountability which would help reduce medication errors and improve safety measures.
Standardizing the Process of Electronic Medication Reconciliation Medication reconciliation is an essential part of improving medication safety. However, it requires the participation of and intervention from both healthcare providers and the patient (Leonhardt, Pagel, Bonin, Moberg, Dvorak, and Hatlie, 2007). According to Gurwitz, Field, Harrold, Rothschild, Debellis, Seger, Cadoret, Fish, Garber, Kelleher, & Bates (2003, p. 1115), it is reported that medication errors and adverse drug events (ADEs) varies widely depending on the setting of the practice and methods used to measure them, nonetheless, evidence show that errors and ADEs are common in ambulatory setting. In 2005, Joint Commission identified medication reconciliation as a National Patient Safety goal (NPSG), therefore requiring institutions to develop and implement medication
Lorraine Le Stephens
Eastern Kentucky University
Abstract
Electronic medication reconciliation is defined as a process in which a complete and accurate list of current medications is generated into a database and is stored as in the patient’s records (Wilson, Murphy & Newhouse, 2013). This process includes collection of medication history, ensuring the medication’s dose and instructions are appropriate, and making changes to the medication list (Wilson et al., 2013, p. 311). Precise medication reconciliation is important in all setting especially in outpatient oncology because many of these patients have multiple health issues requiring multiple treatment. The process of medication reconciliation is done by a designated healthcare provider and without standard of practice, complete and accurate medication reconciliation would not be obtain. Therefore, implementing a standardize process that clearly defines nursing and physician’s role would allocate accountability which would help reduce medication errors and improve safety measures.
Standardizing the Process of Electronic Medication Reconciliation Medication reconciliation is an essential part of improving medication safety. However, it requires the participation of and intervention from both healthcare providers and the patient (Leonhardt, Pagel, Bonin, Moberg, Dvorak, and Hatlie, 2007). According to Gurwitz, Field, Harrold, Rothschild, Debellis, Seger, Cadoret, Fish, Garber, Kelleher, & Bates (2003, p. 1115), it is reported that medication errors and adverse drug events (ADEs) varies widely depending on the setting of the practice and methods used to measure them, nonetheless, evidence show that errors and ADEs are common in ambulatory setting. In 2005, Joint Commission identified medication reconciliation as a National Patient Safety goal (NPSG), therefore requiring institutions to develop and implement medication