The short answer to the question, “What is another name for medication reconciliation?” is that there isn't one single, universally accepted synonym. However, several abbreviations and related terms are used, sometimes incorrectly, to describe the process or aspects of it. Understanding the precise terminology is crucial for healthcare professionals and patients alike to ensure clarity and, most importantly, patient safety. While the official name emphasizes the act of 'reconciling' or resolving discrepancies, other names often reflect a different aspect of medication therapy.
Common Informal and Related Terms
Med Rec
This is the most common and widely recognized abbreviation for medication reconciliation. It is frequently used in clinical settings for speed and simplicity. It refers to the same process of comparing a patient's medication history to their current orders, especially at key points of care like admission, transfer, or discharge.
Best Possible Medication History (BPMH)
This term describes the crucial initial step of the reconciliation process: obtaining a complete and accurate list of the patient's current medications. A BPMH is obtained by interviewing the patient and/or their caregiver and cross-referencing information from pharmacies, previous medical records, and medication bottles. While not a name for the entire process, it is a vital component often used as a shorthand to describe this specific stage.
Medication Time Out
Proposed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), this term was suggested as an alternative to emphasize the focused, deliberate nature of the process. It encourages clinicians to pause and focus specifically on a patient's medication therapy, similar to a 'surgical time out' for patient safety.
Understanding Related, But Distinct, Terms
It's important to distinguish medication reconciliation from other medication-related healthcare practices. While the terms below are related, they describe different processes and have broader scopes.
Medication Review
Medication review is a more evaluative process than reconciliation. While reconciliation focuses on accuracy—ensuring the documented list matches what the patient is actually taking—a medication review examines the appropriateness, effectiveness, and safety of a patient's medicines. This might involve evaluating for drug-related problems, considering patient preferences, and assessing the treatment plan against the patient's health status. Medication reconciliation is often a prerequisite for a comprehensive medication review.
Medication Management (or Medication Therapy Management - MTM)
Medication management is an even broader term covering the entire spectrum of overseeing a patient's drug therapy. It includes prescribing, dispensing, administering, and monitoring medications, and aims to optimize patient outcomes. MTM is a specific patient-centered service provided by pharmacists that involves creating a treatment plan centered on a patient's medication-related goals. Medication reconciliation is a key component of effective medication management.
Why Terminology Matters for Patient Safety
Clear communication is paramount in healthcare. Using the correct terminology ensures that all members of the care team understand their specific roles and responsibilities. The use of interchangeable or ambiguous terms can lead to misunderstandings, which can contribute to medication errors. The formal, defined process of medication reconciliation addresses a specific patient safety concern—discrepancies during transitions of care—while broader terms like medication management cover the full spectrum of medication-related activities.
The Four Steps of Medication Reconciliation
Regardless of the name used, the core process involves a series of steps to ensure accuracy and safety.
- Verify: Collect a complete and accurate list of the patient's medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements.
- Clarify: Ensure that the medications and dosages are appropriate for the patient's health conditions.
- Reconcile: Compare the new medication orders with the existing list, and resolve any discrepancies by documenting the changes.
- Transmit: Communicate the updated and verified medication list to the patient, caregivers, and other healthcare providers involved in the patient's care.
Comparison of Medication-Related Processes
| Process | Primary Purpose | Scope | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medication Reconciliation | Ensure accuracy of medication list at care transitions. | Focused on medication list accuracy. | Collect list, compare to new orders, resolve discrepancies. |
| Medication Review | Evaluate appropriateness of medication use. | Broader than reconciliation, evaluates the entire regimen. | Assess for effectiveness, side effects, interactions; consider patient goals. |
| Medication Management (MTM) | Optimize patient outcomes through safe and effective drug therapy. | Broadest scope, encompasses all medication-related care. | Prescribing, dispensing, monitoring, patient education, creating care plans. |
Conclusion
While there is no perfect synonym for the formal term, medication reconciliation, informal terms like 'med rec' or references to the 'best possible medication history' are common. More encompassing concepts, such as medication review and medication management, describe distinct but related processes. The precision of language in this context is critical for preventing medication errors and ensuring patient safety. Regardless of the name, the standardized process of verifying, clarifying, and reconciling medication information at every transition of care remains an essential component of quality healthcare. https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/hospital/match/chapter-3.html
