What is medication reconciliation in transitions of care?

• A. Comparing patient’s current meds with new orders to prevent omissions, duplications, or interactions.
• B. Verifying the patient's identity before giving meds.
• C. Documenting the time of administration.
• D. Checking for allergies only.

Answer: (A)

Medication reconciliation in transitions of care is the process of making sure a patient’s medication list is accurate and complete when care moves from one setting to another. The goal is to prevent omissions, duplications, dosing errors, or harmful drug interactions by comparing the patient’s current medications with new orders, identifying discrepancies, and resolving them with the prescriber or pharmacist. It also involves updating the official medication record, informing the patient and care team, and documenting changes. While verifying identity, recording administration times, and checking allergies are important safety practices, they are not the reconciliation process itself. The reconciliation focus is the careful comparison and adjustment of medications to ensure safe, continuous therapy.