Q: What is the importance of medication reconciliation and why is it hard to achieve?
Jeannie Pezone: Medication reconciliation ensures all healthcare providers are clear on what a patient is taking so that when a new prescription is given, the physician will know what’s already been prescribed so it won’t result in any negative side effects. It’s to make sure that if we do prescribe something, we do so safely. Patients may not think of aspirin, Tylenol or a multi-vitamin as a medication, but a patient has to tell the provider that those have been taken.
Q: How do you ensure medication reconciliation is maintained at West Park?
JP: Patients complete medication reconciliation forms, on which they are asked to list all allergies and reactions to any medications, any over-the-counter medications or non-prescriptions like herbal products that were taken, what medications are taken for daily use or just when needed and so on. After we are sure we have that well-documented on the chart, we confirm every detail again with that patient or family member. If the patient is prescribed anything new by any of our physicians, we make sure that it’s added to that list.
Q: Is there a second line of defense used to ensure other healthcare providers know what they’re patients are taking?
JP: After it is documented in the patient’s record, a copy is forwarded on to whoever is also responsible for the care of that patient. So if you know that the patient will be going from your facility to a rehabilitative clinic, nursing home or another physician, that medication list is forwarded onto them. That way there’s a continuum from care, and everybody has the same information.
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