medication reconciliation
Systematic review and documentation of all medications during care transitions to prevent errors.
Full Definition
Medication reconciliation is a formal process of reviewing and verifying a patient's complete medication regimen during transitions of care, such as hospital admission, transfer between units, or discharge. This safety practice involves obtaining accurate medication histories, comparing current orders with previous regimens, and identifying and resolving discrepancies. In psychiatric settings, medication reconciliation is particularly critical due to complex psychotropic regimens, potential drug interactions, and the cognitive effects of mental illness on patient reporting. The process helps prevent adverse drug events, medication omissions, and therapeutic duplications that could compromise patient safety and treatment outcomes.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated as 'med rec' in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "Medication reconciliation revealed that the patient had been taking an additional mood stabilizer not documented in the admission orders." — Hospital admission documentation
- "The pharmacy completed medication reconciliation before discharge to ensure continuity of psychotropic treatment." — Discharge planning notes