Improving medication reconciliation in the outpatient setting.
The Joint Commission mandates that all hospitals implement a system for medication reconciliation, although many practitioners remain frustrated with local efforts. Current reports of best practices stem from the inpatient setting. This pilot study targeted patients from a single ambulatory clinic and administered a multifaceted intervention to reduce prescribing errors. Patients received mailed reminders to bring their medications into appointments and then actively participated in correcting mistakes within their medical record. The interventions led to significant reductions in prescribing errors and medication discrepancies. Similar to a past study, the authors advocate for greater patient involvement in ensuring accurate medication records.