Enhancing Medication Reconciliation During Patient Discharge: The Collaborative Roles of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in Preventing Readmissions

Authors: Haitham K. Alanazi, Yazeed A. Alsuwailem, Abdullah M. Albogami, Abdulmajeed Alharbi, Meshal Alotaibi

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13752155

Short DOI: https://doi.org/gv9z34

Country: Saudi Arabia

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Abstract: Background: Medication reconciliation at discharge is a critical process for preventing medication errors and reducing hospital readmissions. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play essential, complementary roles in ensuring accurate medication reconciliation, yet little research has explored their collaborative efforts during patient discharge.

Objective: This study investigates the collaboration between pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in enhancing medication reconciliation during patient discharge, with a focus on preventing medication-related readmissions.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted at a tertiary hospital using semi-structured interviews with 10 pharmacists and 10 pharmacy technicians. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes related to workflow, challenges, and communication strategies.

Results: Three major themes emerged: (1) Collaborative Workflow in Medication Reconciliation, highlighting the complementary roles of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; (2) Challenges in Ensuring Accuracy and Preventing Readmissions, including time constraints, incomplete patient information, and complex medication regimens; and (3) Communication with Patients and Healthcare Providers, emphasizing the importance of clear communication to ensure patient understanding and prevent medication errors.

Conclusion: The collaboration between pharmacists and pharmacy technicians is critical for ensuring accurate medication reconciliation and reducing the risk of medication-related readmissions. Addressing workload challenges and enhancing communication between healthcare providers can further improve the medication reconciliation process.

Keywords: Medication reconciliation, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, hospital discharge, collaboration, patient safety, readmissions

Paper Id: 231166

Published On: 2024-04-10

Published In: Volume 12, Issue 2, March-April 2024

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