Primary Care Intervention: Medication Reconciliation Reduces Rehospitalizations

Abstract

Practice Problem: Patients are put at risk for adverse medications events when diligent care is not taken by healthcare staff. Medication discrepancies and oversights from medical personal can lead to severe illness or even death of a patient. PICOT: The PICOT question for this project is: For patients 65 years and older (P) does a review of a hard copy of discharge instructions (I)compared to current practice during a visit, (C) impact the number of hospital readmission (O)in eight weeks (T)? Evidence: Medication reconciliation at each point of care, patient education on medication management, and involving patients in their own treatment plan fosters patient compliance and helps reduce hospitalizations and adverse patient events. Outcome: The intervention of medications reconciliation at each point of contact at the physicians led to zero hospital readmissions over an eight-week period. Conclusion: Medication reconciliations and patient education are an important intervention to help promote wellness, patient engagement and prevent medication adverse events.