Medication accuracy and general practitioner referral letters.
Prescriber medication communication is a Quality Use of Medicines barrier. Medication information in General Practice (GP) referral letters to a physician was evaluated. Accuracy of medications taken and drug dose was respectively 63% and 84%, an overall accuracy rate of 58%. Complementary/over-the-counter medication documentation occurred in 26% of the letters. To avoid medical mismanagement, physicians must validate all GP medication lists regardless of their apparent comprehensiveness.
School of Medical Practice and Population Health, Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, New Australia. shane.carney@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family; D012017:Referral and Consultation