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Reconcile Medications at All Transition Points:
Reconcile Discharge Orders with the Nursing Medication Administration Record

After discharge from the hospital, a patient may continue taking some medications at home, but not perhaps all of them. Therefore, it is extremely important to compare the discharge medication orders with the nursing medication administration record (MAR) to check for any discrepancies. If a medication the patient has been receiving in the hospital is not in the discharge orders, and there is no adequate documentation indicating why that medication has been omitted, then a nurse or pharmacist should contact the patient’s physician to verify whether or not the patient should discontinue use of the medication.


Tips
  • Create a standardized form that lists all the medications the patient has been receiving in the hospital, and include space on the form for physicians to document the reasons for omitting certain medications upon discharge from the hospital. Physicians can also use this form for ordering medications.
  • Attach the pre-admission medication list  to the discharge orders form — the patient may need to discontinue some medications that were being taken at home.
  • Provide the patient with a comprehensive list of all medications — those being taken before admission plus the new medications from the discharge orders. Clearly indicate the name of each drug, its purpose, and the instructions for taking the medication, as well as any instructions for discontinuing use.



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