What does "medication reconciliation" involve?

Medication reconciliation is a critical process in clinical practice focused on ensuring that patients have an accurate and comprehensive list of their medications. This involves comparing the medications that a patient is currently taking with the medications that are prescribed during transitions in care, such as hospital admissions, transfers, or discharges. The goal is to identify and rectify any discrepancies, such as omissions, duplications, or incorrect dosages, which can help prevent medication errors and enhance patient safety.

This process is particularly important because patients may be on multiple medications, and changes can occur due to factors such as new prescriptions or changes in health status. By ensuring an accurate medication list, healthcare providers can better manage treatment, avoid adverse drug interactions, and promote adherence to medication regimens.

The other options do not capture the comprehensive nature of medication reconciliation. Adjusting doses based on patient preference may play a role in individualized patient care, but it does not represent the purpose of reconciliation itself. Documenting medication side effects is important for monitoring patient safety, but it is not the primary focus of reconciliation. Disregarding previous medication history would undermine patient safety and is contrary to the principles of effective medication management. Therefore, focusing on the accuracy of the medication list is the cornerstone of the reconciliation process.