What is the main purpose of medication reconciliation?

What is the main purpose of medication reconciliation?

• A. To increase medication inventory
• B. To enhance patient billing processes
• C. To prevent medication errors during transitions of care
• D. To reduce pharmacy workload

Answer: (C)

The main purpose of medication reconciliation is to prevent medication errors during transitions of care. This process involves reviewing and discussing a patient’s complete medication list whenever there is a change in their care setting, such as admission to a hospital, transfer between departments, or discharge. The goal of medication reconciliation is to ensure that patients have the correct medications, dosages, and understand how to take them, thereby reducing the risk of adverse drug events and improving patient safety. By systematically checking for discrepancies in medication orders, healthcare professionals can identify potential errors such as omissions, duplications, or interactions that could endanger a patient’s health. This is particularly crucial since patients often receive treatment from multiple providers, and continuity of medication information is vital to effective care. The other options do not reflect the primary aim of medication reconciliation; they focus on areas that, while potentially affected by improved medication management, do not directly address patient safety and error prevention during care transitions.

The main purpose of medication reconciliation is to prevent medication errors during transitions of care. This process involves reviewing and discussing a patient’s complete medication list whenever there is a change in their care setting, such as admission to a hospital, transfer between departments, or discharge. The goal of medication reconciliation is to ensure that patients have the correct medications, dosages, and understand how to take them, thereby reducing the risk of adverse drug events and improving patient safety.

By systematically checking for discrepancies in medication orders, healthcare professionals can identify potential errors such as omissions, duplications, or interactions that could endanger a patient’s health. This is particularly crucial since patients often receive treatment from multiple providers, and continuity of medication information is vital to effective care. The other options do not reflect the primary aim of medication reconciliation; they focus on areas that, while potentially affected by improved medication management, do not directly address patient safety and error prevention during care transitions.