Medicines_reconciliation
Medicines reconciliation or medication reconciliation is the process of ensuring that a hospital patient's medication list is as up-to-date as possible. It is usually undertaken by a pharmacist and may include consulting several sources such as the patient, their relatives or caregivers, or their primary care physician.
In the United Kingdom, guidelines on medicines reconciliation are provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in collaboration with the National Patient Safety Agency.[1] In accordance with these, it should be carried out within 24 hours of admission to hospital. From April 2020 it is to be an essential service in the community pharmacy contract in England.[2]
In the United States, the Joint Commission prioritizes medication reconciliation at hospital admission and during ambulatory care as one of the National Patient Safety Goals.[3][4]