Medication reconciliation as a strategy for preventing medication errors

Uma das barreiras propostas para se evitar possíveis erros relacionados a medicamentos e, consequentemente, que danos acometam o paciente, é a reconciliação medicamentosa no ato da internação, processo no qual se comparam os medicamentos usados pelos pacientes previamente à internação com os prescritos no âmbito hospitalar. Este trabalho descreve os resultados de seis meses de um processo de reconciliação conduzido por farmacêutico em unidades clínicas de um hospital universitário. Quatorze pacientes (23.33%) tiveram algum tipo de problema relacionado ao uso de medicamentos. A maioria dos erros envolvendo medicamentos (80%) estava relacionada à omissão de medicamentos. As intervenções farmacêuticas tiveram 90% de aceitação pelos médicos. Os resultados sugerem que a atuação de farmacêuticos na reconciliação medicamentosa pode desempenhar papel relevante na prevenção de erros de medicamentos e eventos adversos. Além disso, a entrevista detalhada conduzida por um farmacêutico se mostrou capaz de resgatar informações importantes sobre o uso dos medicamentos, permitindo evitar erros e danos ao paciente.One of the current barriers proposed to avoid possible medication errors, and consequently harm to patients, is the medication reconciliation, a process in which drugs used by patients prior to hospitalization can be compared with those prescribed in the hospital. This study describes the results of a pharmacist based reconciliation conducted during six months in clinical units of a university hospital. Fourteen patients (23.33%) had some kind of problem related to medicine. The majority (80%) of medication errors were due to medication omission. Pharmaceutical interventions acceptance level was 90%. The results suggest that pharmacists based reconciliation can have a relevant role in preventing medication errors and adverse events. Moreover, the detailed interview, conducted by the pharmacist, is able to rescue important information regarding the use of drugs, allowing to avoid medications errors and patient injury

Medication reconciliation as a strategy for preventing medication errors

ABSTRACT One of the current barriers proposed to avoid possible medication errors, and consequently harm to patients, is the medication reconciliation, a process in which drugs used by patients prior to hospitalization can be compared with those prescribed in the hospital. This study describes the results of a pharmacist based reconciliation conducted during six months in clinical units of a university hospital. Fourteen patients (23.33%) had some kind of problem related to medicine. The majority (80%) of medication errors were due to medication omission. Pharmaceutical interventions acceptance level was 90%. The results suggest that pharmacists based reconciliation can have a relevant role in preventing medication errors and adverse events. Moreover, the detailed interview, conducted by the pharmacist, is able to rescue important information regarding the use of drugs, allowing to avoid medications errors and patient injury

Reconciliação de medicamentos: um relato de caso

Studies on the safe use of medicines are increasingly growing, and it is constantly discussed the quality provided to admitted patients as well as the methods for ensuring the safety and prevention of adverse events during hospitalization. One of the current barriers encountered to avoid possible errors, and consequently harm to patients, is the medication reconciliation. It is a process that allows you to compare the drugs used by patients prior to admission with prescribed medicines in hospitals. Objective: To ascertain through the deployment of medication reconciliation if the pharmacist, acting at the clinic, can prevent potential medication errors with the multidisciplinary team. Methods: Through a prospective study, during six months the medication reconciliation was conducted in clinicals male and female units of an Antônio Pedro University Hospital, located in Niterói (Rio de Janeiro). The discrepancies found were discussed with the clinical staff and interventions were made. Results: a total of 60 patients during admission, 80% of medication errors were due to medicament omission, 15% error incorrect dose prescribed and 5% incorrect medication prescribed drug related history. Only one patient had companion during his hospitalization, 14 patients (23.3%) had some kind of problem related to medicine. Regarding the acceptability by the clinical team, 90% of accepted interventions were obtained on this study. Conclusions: Medication reconciliation is greatly relevant in preventing medication errors and adverse events, since most of the discrepancies found, consequently about intervention, are related to medications omission. Moreover, the detailed interview, conducted by the pharmacist, is able to rescue important information regarding the use of drugs, especially within the first 24 hours after admission, so that errors can be reduced and if any, they can be corrected prior to patient injuryCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorEstudos sobre a segurança no uso de medicamentos estão frequentes e constantemente é discutida a qualidade prestada ao paciente internado, bem como métodos para garantir segurança do paciente e prevenção de eventos adversos durante a hospitalização. Uma das barreiras propostas para se evitar possíveis erros de medicação e que danos acometam o paciente é a reconciliação medicamentosa no ato da internação. Trata-se de processo que permite comparar os medicamentos usados pelos pacientes previamente à internação com os medicamentos prescritos no âmbito hospitalar. Objetivo: Verificar através da implantação da reconciliação medicamentosa, a contribuição potencial do farmacêutico, presente na clínica junto com a equipe multidisciplinar, na prevenção de possíveis erros de medicação. Métodos: Através de um estudo prospectivo, no período de seis meses, foi realizada a reconciliação medicamentosa durante a admissão dos pacientes nas unidades de clínica médica masculina e feminina do Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, situado na cidade de Niterói (Rio de Janeiro). As discrepâncias encontradas originaram intervenções farmacêuticas junto à equipe clínica. Resultados: Foram acompanhados 60 pacientes desde a admissão e 80% dos erros de medicação identificados foram omissões de medicamentos, 15% erros de dose incorreta prescrita e 5% de medicamentos incorretos prescrito, relacionados à história medicamentosa. Apenas um paciente possuía acompanhante durante sua internação; 14 pacientes (23,3%) apresentaram algum tipo de problema relacionado a medicamento. Quanto à aceitação pela equipe clínica, 90% das intervenções sugeridas foram aceitas. Conclusões: É relevante a reconciliação medicamentosa na prevenção de erros de medicação e eventos adversos, pois a maioria das discrepâncias encontradas, e as intervenções, estão relacionadas à omissão de medicamentos. A entrevista realizada pelo farmacêutico consegue resgatar importantes informações quanto ao uso de medicamentos, principalmente dentro das primeiras 24h após admissão, para que os erros possam ser reduzidos ou corrigidos previamente aos danos ao pacient

Medication reconciliation as a strategy for preventing medication errors

ABSTRACT One of the current barriers proposed to avoid possible medication errors, and consequently harm to patients, is the medication reconciliation, a process in which drugs used by patients prior to hospitalization can be compared with those prescribed in the hospital. This study describes the results of a pharmacist based reconciliation conducted during six months in clinical units of a university hospital. Fourteen patients (23.33%) had some kind of problem related to medicine. The majority (80%) of medication errors were due to medication omission. Pharmaceutical interventions acceptance level was 90%. The results suggest that pharmacists based reconciliation can have a relevant role in preventing medication errors and adverse events. Moreover, the detailed interview, conducted by the pharmacist, is able to rescue important information regarding the use of drugs, allowing to avoid medications errors and patient injury