Pharmacy impact on medication reconciliation in the medical intensive care unit
Volume 5, Issue 2, Spring 2016, Pages 142-145
. Brittany M. Wills, . William Darko, . Robert Seabury, . Luke A. Probst, . Christopher D. Miller, . Gregory M. Cwikla
Abstract Objective: Pharmacy‑driven medication history (MH) programs have been shown
to reduce the number of serious or potentially life‑threatening (S/PLT) medication
discrepancies (MDs) in many settings, but not Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
Methods: MHs were repeated over a 6‑week period. Demographics, number, and nature
of MDs were documented. Discrepancy severity was graded using a previously published
method. Primary outcome was the proportion of MHs containing >1 S/PLT MDs.
Findings: Sixty‑three MHs were repeated. Pharmacy MHs were less likely to
contain ≥1 S/PLT MDs (0% vs. 50%, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Pharmacy MHs contained fewer S/PLT MDs in this small sample. S/PLT
MDs on admission and home medication lists were common in patients admitted to
the medical ICU. Pharmacy‑driven medication reconciliation (MR) reduced the number
and frequency of these discrepancies. Further research is required to improve current
MR procedures.