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

• Continuing collaboration with professional associations and national partners to create acomprehensive communication strategy to support medication reconciliation efforts in Canada.This strategy will target health care providers; provincial, territorial, and federal health ministries;and the public.Looking Ahead: Medication Reconciliation for AllMedication reconciliation continues to be a complex and challenging component of patient safetyfor health care organizations across Canada. Committed and visible leadership is required forsystem-wide implementation and spread of this key patient safety priority. The partnership betweenAccreditation Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the Canadian Patient SafetyInstitute, and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada will continue to provide leadership,comparable data and information on best practices, and ongoing support to make care safer forall Canadians. This collaboration will advance the national medication reconciliation agenda andfoster improvements in the communication of medication information within the health care system,promote consistent measurement, and ensure tools are continually reviewed and updated to supportthis important work.The end goal – implementation of medication reconciliation across the Canadian health system – isattainable. Health care organizations that have successfully implemented medication reconciliationhave an overwhelming sense that medication reconciliation benefits patients, is the right thing todo, and makes care safer. This essential communication – to collect and share comprehensivemedication information – must involve clinicians working with patients and families (to educate andpromote self-management), other health care providers, and unwavering support from health careleaders. Communicating effectively about medications is a critical component of delivering safehigh-quality care across all sectors of the Canadian health care system.18 Medication Reconciliation in Canada: Raising the Bar