Which best describes the process of medication reconciliation?

The process of medication reconciliation is best described as comprehensively evaluating a medication regimen during therapy change. This involves a thorough assessment of a patient's medications when there is a transition in care, such as hospital admission, discharge, or transfer. The primary goal is to ensure that all medications are reviewed for accuracy and appropriateness, leading to the safe continuation of therapy.

During these transitions, discrepancies can often arise, such as medications being omitted or doses being altered. A comprehensive evaluation helps identify and address these discrepancies, ensuring that the patient receives the correct medications while minimizing the risk of adverse drug events. By focusing on therapy changes, medication reconciliation promotes effective communication among healthcare providers and helps maintain continuity of care, which is critical for patient safety and optimal therapeutic outcomes.

While compiling a medication list and reviewing the patient's medication profile with prescribers are important components of the overall medication management process, they do not encapsulate the depth and focus of medication reconciliation during therapy transitions. Similarly, performing a drug utilization review typically focuses on analyzing medication usage against guidelines but does not specifically address the reconciliation process associated with changing a patient's therapy.