Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): Medication Reconciliation

Medication reconciliation is the process of ensuring that a patient’s medication regimen is accurate, complete, and up-to-date at all transition points of care, such as when a patient is discharged from a hospital, transferred to another facility, or sees a new healthcare provider. The goal of medication reconciliation is to prevent medication errors, such as prescribing medications that interact negatively with each other, prescribing medications that are contraindicated for the patient’s condition, or omitting medications that the patient was previously taking.

The process of medication reconciliation typically includes the following steps:

Identification of the patient’s current medications: A list of all medications that the patient is currently taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, supplements, and herbal remedies, is compiled.

Comparison to the medication regimen: The current medication list is compared to the medication regimen that has been ordered or recommended by the healthcare provider.

Resolving discrepancies: Discrepancies between the current medication list and the ordered medication regimen are resolved through communication with the patient, the patient’s healthcare providers, and other relevant sources of information.

Documentation: The final, reconciled medication regimen is documented in the patient’s medical record and communicated to all relevant healthcare providers.

Medication reconciliation is an important aspect of healthcare, as it helps to ensure that patients receive safe and effective care and reduces the risk of medication errors. It is particularly important for patients who are transitioning between different care settings or who have multiple healthcare providers.