medication reconciliation

Q: The medication reconciliation process includes all of the following steps EXCEPT? (select one)

A) Verification 

B) Clarification

C) Reconciliation

D) Notification

Answer: D

Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) can be decreased by a proper process of medication reconciliation. It has three steps:

1. Verification – Reviewing the patient's medication history and developing an accurate list of medications.

2. Clarification – Ensure appropriate current medications and their doses.

3. Reconciliation—Identify discrepancies between medication ordered for patients and those on the list, make appropriate changes to orders, document any changes, and communicate the updated list to next provider within or outside the hospital. Patients should also be provided written information on the medications when discharged from hospital.

Putting out notifications may become a public process and may cause privacy violations.

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Reference:

1. Greenwald JL, Halasyamani L, Greene J, et al. Making inpatient medication reconciliation patient centered, clinically relevant and implementable: a consensus statement on key principles and necessary first steps. J Hosp Med 2010; 5:477.