Overview:
 Unintentional medication discrepancies during transitions
in care (such as hospitalization and subsequent discharge) are very
common and represent a major threat to patient safety. One solution to
this problem is medication reconciliation. In response to Joint
Commission requirements, most hospitals have developed medication
reconciliation processes, but some have been more successful than
others, and there are reports of proforma compliance without
substantial improvements in patient safety. There is now collective
experience about effective approaches to medication reconciliation, but
these have yet to be consolidated, evaluated rigorously, and
disseminated effectively.
In 2010, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
awarded the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) a $1.5 million grant for
a three-year Multi-Center Medication Reconciliation Quality Improvement
Study (MARQUIS). The goal of MARQUIS is to develop better ways for
medications to be prescribed, documented, and reconciled accurately and
safely at times of care transitions when patients enter and leave the
hospital.
Role of the Hospitalist:
- Take responsibility for the accuracy of the medication
reconciliation process for each patient under your care.
- Lead, coordinate, or participate in medication reconciliation
quality improvement efforts along with other key team members on the
"front lines" to inform the hospital QI team on key
interventions that would lead to improved patient
outcomes.
- Become trained in taking the “best possible medication
history” and effective discharge medication counseling.
- Identify patients who are at high risk for a medication
reconciliation error and would benefit from a more intensive medication
reconciliation process.
Funded by AHRQ grant HS0195898
MARQUIS Project Team |
