What does 'medication reconciliation' refer to?

Medication reconciliation is a crucial process in the healthcare system aimed at ensuring patient safety and minimizing medication errors. It involves systematically comparing a patient's current medications with the medications prescribed to them to identify discrepancies, duplications, omissions, or potential drug interactions.

This practice is particularly important during transitions of care, such as when a patient is admitted to the hospital, transferred between care settings, or discharged. The goal of medication reconciliation is to create an accurate and comprehensive list of medications that the patient is taking, which helps healthcare providers make informed clinical decisions and provide appropriate medication management.

The correctness of this answer lies in its focus on the comparison aspect, which is vital for avoiding errors that could arise from misunderstandings or omissions. It directly relates to patient safety by ensuring that all medications a patient is taking are accounted for and correctly prescribed according to their current health status.