Author/Authors :
M. Wills, Brittany Nesbitt School of Pharmacy - Wilkes University - Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA , Darko, William Department of Pharmacy - Upstate University Hospital - Syracuse, New York, USA , Seabury, Robert Department of Pharmacy - Upstate University Hospital - Syracuse, New York, USA , A. Probst, Luke Department of Pharmacy - Upstate University Hospital - Syracuse, New York, USA , D. Miller, Christopher Department of Pharmacy - Upstate University Hospital - Syracuse, New York, USA , M. Cwikla, Gregory Department of Pharmacy - Upstate University Hospital - Syracuse, New York, USA
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.
