Medication Reconciliation in Canada: Raising the Bar (2012) - CIHI

Renewing the Focus on Medication ReconciliationOver the Last Two Years:Securing support and sharing resourcesTo accomplish the themes identified at the 2011 national summit a number of initiatives have sincebeen developed. These initiatives demonstrate that improving communications about medicationsmust involve health care leaders, practitioners, and the public.Consensus StatementThe commitment of thirteen national, Canadian health care organizations to support strategiesto improve communication on medication reconciliation was secured earlier in 2012. A uniquecomponent of this work led by CPSI and ISMP Canada was the development of a consensusstatement endorsed by all organizations as shown in Figure 7. This statement was furtherstrengthened by the endorsement of Patients for Patient Safety Canada — the national voice ofpatients to improve safety in health care. Work to define the roles and responsibilities of eachhealth care professional in the medication reconciliation process is underway.Figure 7 – Medication reconciliation 2012 consensus statementMedication Safety: We all have a role to play.Safe patient care depends on accurate information. Patients benefit when clinicians work with patients, families, and their colleagues to collectand share current and comprehensive medication information. Medication reconciliation is a formal process to do this at care transitions, suchas when patients enter the hospital, are transferred or go home. We all have a role to play.Accreditation Canada, Canada Health Infoway, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, the Canadian PharmacistsAssociation, the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Patients for Patient Safety Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada,The College of Family Physicians of Canada, Canadian Patient Safety Institute and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada actively supportstrategies to improve medication safety and call on all healthcare professionals to contribute to effective communication aboutmedications at all transitions of care to improve the quality and safety of our Canadian healthcare system.14 Medication Reconciliation in Canada: Raising the Bar