LTC medication reconciliation kit now available online

Revised definitions for medical reconciliation, information about electronic Patient Safety Metrics System included

September 21, 2012 -- Deron Hamel

An updated medication reconciliation kit for the Canadian long-term care sector is now available for free download from Safer Healthcare Now, the flagship program of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI).

The new kit includes revised definitions for medical reconciliation to better define steps involved with medication reconciliation as well as information about the new electronic Patient Safety Metrics System.

Available in both English and French , the kit is designed to help Canadian long-term care homes implement medication reconciliation, a process aimed at reducing adverse drug events and enhancing resident safety that may occur as people are transferred from one care environment to another.

This is achieved by working with residents, families and other care providers to ensure accurate and comprehensive information about residents’ medical histories is communicated consistently.

The kit is also aimed at helping long-term care providers enhance their quality improvement goals. Reconciliation of long-term care residents’ medications is one of Accreditation Canada’s core patient safety performance measures for the sector.

“The (kit) is chockfull of examples of processes and the most current evidence available that can be used by both the experienced health-care professional and those new to medication reconciliation,” says Marg Colquhoun, Safer Healthcare Now’s medication reconciliation intervention co-lead.

“The tools and resources in the kit are easy to use and readily available to advance medication reconciliation across the continuum of care.”

CPSI is a not-for-profit organization collaborating with health professionals, health-care organizations, regulatory bodies and governments to help enhance patient safety in the Canadian health-care system.

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