title: Primary care physician communication at hospital discharge reduces medication discrepancies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medication discrepancies are common as patients transition from hospital to home. Errors with post-discharge medication regimens may play a role in hospital readmissions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether primary care physician (PCP) contact with patients at hospital discharge impacts the frequency of medication discrepancies at 24 hours post-discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the PCP-Enhanced Discharge Communication Intervention, PCPs were asked to speak with treating hospitalists and contact patients within 24 hours of hospital discharge (either in person or by phone) to discuss any hospital medication changes. Research staff enrolled subjects during their hospitalization and telephoned subjects 48 hours post-discharge to determine medication discrepancies and PCP contact.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fourteen community-dwelling adults, admitted to acute medicine services >24 hours on ≥ 5 medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 114 subjects enrolled in the hospital, 75 subjects completed 48 hours postdischarge phone interviews. Of the 75 study patients, 39 patients (50.6%) experienced a total of 84 medication discrepancies (mean, 2.1 discrepancies/patient). Subjects who were contacted by their PCP at discharge were 70% less likely to have a discrepancy when compared with those not contacted (P = 0.04). Males were 4.34 times more likely to have a discrepancy (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCP communication with patients within 24 hours of discharge was associated with decreased medication discrepancies. Our results further demonstrate the importance of PCP involvement in the hospital discharge process.
authors: Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
authors: Lee A
authors: LA
authors: Lindquist
authors: Atsuko
authors: A
authors: Yamahiro
authors: Arianne
authors: A
authors: Garrett
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Zei
authors: Joseph M
authors: JM
authors: Feinglass
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000639:trends; D059065:Medication Reconciliation / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000639:trends; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends