Medication Management and Reconciliation in the Emergency Setting Position Statement-Medication Management and Reconciliation in the Emergency Setting Position Statement

Pdf Summary

Medication management and reconciliation in the emergency setting is a critical patient safety issue. The process involves activities such as verification, prescribing, administration, and monitoring to prevent medication errors and adverse drug events during transitions of care. Obtaining an accurate medication history is the first step in medication management and reconciliation.<br /><br />In the busy and chaotic emergency setting, obtaining an accurate medication history can be challenging. Errors in communication and information gathering can occur due to time constraints and multiple sources of medication information. Studies have shown that medication histories collected by nurses or healthcare personnel other than pharmacy staff are less accurate and more prone to errors.<br /><br />Pharmacists or pharmacy technicians are considered best suited to compile medication histories and complete the reconciliation process. However, establishing dedicated pharmacy staff in the emergency setting can be challenging.<br /><br />Emergency nurses play a crucial role in supporting medication management. They collaborate with prescribers to communicate medication changes to patients and their families, educate patients on the importance of maintaining accurate medication lists, and advocate for best practices in medication management.<br /><br />Accurate medication history collection is essential for patient safety and appropriate evaluation and treatment. While medication histories are often obtained during triage, more comprehensive documentation should be completed after stabilization.<br /><br />Overall, medication management is a collaborative effort among nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and patients to ensure patient safety. Emergency nurses contribute to this process through assessments, interventions, patient education, and discharge planning. They also collaborate with other healthcare providers to advocate for optimal medication management practices and policies.

Meta Tag

medication pharmacy

medication drugs

medication triage

medication safety

medication position statement

medication history

medication prescription

Keywords

medication management

reconciliation

emergency setting

patient safety

medication errors

medication history

communication errors

pharmacy staff

emergency nurses

patient education