An evaluation of the epidemiology of medication discrepancies and clinical significance of medicines reconciliation in children admitted to hospital

Abstract

This study demonstrates that in the absence of medicines reconciliation, children admitted to hospitals across England are at risk of harm from unintended medication discrepancies at the transition of care from the community to hospital. No single source of information provided a reliable medication history.

Magnitude and factors associated with medication discrepancies identified through medication reconciliation at care transitions of a tertiary hospital in eastern Ethiopia

“…Despite multidisciplinary collaborations for patient care, high rates of medication errors associated with unintended medication discrepancies remain as challenges [ 1 – 3 ]. Medication errors due to such unintended discrepancies could be encountered in up to 50–70% of patients during transitions in care [ 4 – 6 ].…”

Increasing PCP and Hospital Medicine Physician Verbal Communication During Hospital Admissions

“…Examples include medication errors, redundant or unnecessary testing, inadvertent exposure to a food or latex allergy, and exposure of staff to high-risk behavioral safety situations. [4][5][6] Communication during hospitalization between outpatient and inpatient providers also provides an important opportunity for collaboration between primary care physicians (PCPs) and hospitalists to provide consistent care across the care continuum. 7 Two-way communication facilitates collaboration 2,[8][9][10][11] and offers an opportunity for the PCP to provide a historical background, ask clarifying questions, and discuss follow-up needs.…”

Medicines reconciliation: do we know which medicines children are taking?

“…Huynh et al 5 describe a prospective study in four English hospitals where 32% (78 of 244) patients had at least one clinically significant unintentional medication discrepancy on admission. These had the potential to cause moderate harm in 20% (50 patients) or severe harm in 11% (28 patients).…”