Nurse identified hospital to home medication discrepancies: implications for improving transitional care.
Care transitions are clinically dangerous times, particularly for older adults with complex health problems. This article describes the most common medication discrepancies identified by nurses during patients' (n = 101) hospital to home transition. Findings indicated that medication discrepancies were astoundingly widespread, with 94% of the participants having at least 1 discrepancy. The average number of medication discrepancies identified was 3.3 per participant. Medication discrepancies were identified in virtually all classes of medications, including those with high safety risks. Evidence-based best practices to reduce transition-related medication discrepancies are presented.
College of Nursing,Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA.
Cynthia F
CF
Corbett
Stephen M
SM
Setter
Kenn B
KB
Daratha
Joshua J
JJ
Neumiller
Lindy D
LD
Wood
D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D006699:Home Care Services; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital