Effect of an in-hospital multifaceted clinical pharmacist intervention on the risk of readmission: a randomized clinical trial.
Ravn-Nielsen LV, Duckert M-L, Lund ML, et al. Effect of an In-Hospital Multifaceted Clinical Pharmacist Intervention on the Risk of Readmission: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2018;178(3):375-382. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.8274.
Preventable harm is common during and after hospital discharge. Pharmacist-delivered medication reconciliation has been proposed as a strategy to reduce adverse medication events and readmissions. Investigators conducted a three-arm randomized controlled trial comparing the effect of pharmacist-delivered medication reviews, motivational interviews, and postdischarge follow-up with nursing homes, primary care providers, and pharmacies (extended intervention); simple inpatient medication reconciliation (basic intervention); and usual care (no intervention) on outcomes for medically complex patients. The extended intervention reduced hospital readmissions and emergency department visits within 180 days of discharge while the basic intervention did not. This trial was large, robustly conducted, and demonstrated a durable improvement in safety for patients at increased readmission risk. A previous Annual Perspective explored tools for safer transitions of care.
Ravn-Nielsen LV, Duckert M-L, Lund ML, et al. Effect of an In-Hospital Multifaceted Clinical Pharmacist Intervention on the Risk of Readmission: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2018;178(3):375-382. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.8274.