Incidence of clinically relevant medication errors in the era of electronically prepopulated medication reconciliation forms: a retrospective chart review.

Incidence of clinically relevant medication errors in the era of electronically prepopulated medication reconciliation forms: a retrospective chart review. CMAJ Open. 2017 May 05;5(2):E345-E353 Authors: Stockton KR, Wickham ME, Lai S, Badke K, Dahri K, Villanyi D, Ho V, Hohl CM Abstract BACKGROUND: To reduce medication discrepancies (unintended differences between a patient's outpatient and inpatient medication regimens), Canadian institutions have implemented medication reconciliation forms that are prepopulated with outpatient medication dispensing data. These may prompt prescribers to reorder discontinued medications or continue newly contraindicated medications. Our objective was to evaluate the incidence of medication discrepancies and errors of commission after the implementation of such forms. METHODS: This retrospective chart review included patients previously enrolled in an observational study in which a research pharmacist prospectively collected best-possible medication histories in the emergency department. Research assistants uninvolved with the parent study compared medication orders written in the first 48 hours after admission with the research pharmacist's best-possible medication history to identify medication discrepancies and errors of commission, defined as inappropriate medication continuations and reordering of previously stopped medications. An independent panel adjudicated the clinical significance o...
Source: cmaj - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: CMAJ Open Source Type: research