Reconciling Medications at Admission: Safe Practice Recommendations and Implementation Strategies

Authors: Rogers, Gina; Alper, Eric; Brunelle, Diane; Federico, Frank; Fenn, Clark A.; Leape, Lucian L.; Kirle, Leslie; Ridley, Nancy; Clarridge, Brian R.; Bolcic-Jankovic, Dragana; Griswold, Paula; Hanna, Doris; Annas, Catherine L.

Source: Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, Volume 32, Number 1, January 2006 , pp. 37-50(14)

Publisher: Joint Commission Resources

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Abstract:

Background: Fifty hospitals collaborated in a patient safety initiative developed and implemented by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors and the Massachusetts Hospital Association.

Methods: A consensus group identified safe practices and suggested implementation strategies. Four collaborative learning sessions were offered, and teams monitored their progress and shared successful strategies and lessons learned. Reports from participating teams and an evaluation survey were then used to identify successful techniques for reconciling medications.

Results: For the 50 participating hospitals, implementation strategies most strongly correlated with success included active physician and nursing engagement, having an effective improvement team, using small tests of change, having an actively engaged senior administrator, and sending a team to multiple collaborative sessions.

Discussion: Adoption of the reconciling safe practices proved challenging. The process of writing medication orders at patient transfer points is complex. The hospitals' experiences demonstrated that implementing the proposed safe practices requires a team effort with leadership support and vigilant measurement.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2006-01-01

More about this publication?

Published monthly, The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety is a peer-reviewed publication dedicated to providing health professionals with the information they need to promote the quality and safety of health care. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety invites original manuscripts on the development, adaptation, and/or implementation of innovative thinking, strategies, and practices in improving quality and safety in health care. Case studies, program or project reports, reports of new methodologies or new applications of methodologies, research studies on the effectiveness of improvement interventions, and commentaries on issues and practices are all considered.

Also known as Joint Commission Journal on Quality Improvement and Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety
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Reconciling Medications at Admission: Safe Practice Recommendations and Implementation Strategies

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