Goal 8: Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care.
8A There is a process for comparing the patient's current medications with those ordered for the patient while under the care of the organization.
8B A complete list of the patient's medications is communicated to the next provider of service when a patient is referred or transferred to another setting, service, practitioner or level of care within or outside the organization. The complete list of medications is also provided to the patient on discharge from the facility.
My take on this is that if this process is totally manual, there is too much risk for error and information technology will contribute to a more accurate and efficent process.
My earlier post including medication reconciliation tools is extremely popular and found when readers search for "medication reconciliation". So, I've decided to post a follow up and include the actual JCAHO 2007 Patient Safety Goals.
Goal 8: Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care.
My take on this is that if this process is totally manual, there is too much risk for error and information technology will contribute to a more accurate and efficent process.