Medication reconciliation is a process of acquiring and verifying the absolute and accurate list of medication information of the patient. it is meant to prevent and avoid errors at the time of changes in place of care like admission, discharge or transfer from a hospital, or skilled nursing facility to home. It involves following key steps:
1. Acquiring the accurate and complete list possible of the patient’s current regularly taken medications, called as (BPMH) Best Possible Medication History.
2. Using the BPMH list when writing transfer, admission, discharge and medication for the patient.
3. Comparing the BPMH list with the patient’s admission, discharge or transfer medication orders, as well as identifying and reviewing the medical records to ensure that any change made in the of medications has a good rationale. Also, the changes made in the orders or medication must be documented properly in the patient’s home records. Medication errors are a leading cause of hospitalization & death for elderly.