AHRQ Webinar Exploring Hospital-Based Intervention Programs Available Online

A recording is available for AHRQ’s May 20 continuing-education webinar that explored how hospital-based medication reconciliation interventions can reduce medication errors during transitions of care. Some evidence shows that pharmacist-led processes could prevent medication errors and potential adverse drug events. Findings from anAHRQ report that explored this topic and information from the MATCH toolkit, a step-by-step guide for improving the medication reconciliation process, were reviewed during the webinar.

Medications at Transitions and Clinical Handoffs (MATCH) Toolkit for Medication Reconciliation

Medication reconciliation is a complex process that impacts all patients as they move through all health care settings. The process involves comparison of a patient's current medication regimen against a physician's admission, transfer, or discharge orders to identify discrepancies. Study data show that an effective process can detect and avert most medication discrepancies, potentially avoiding a large number of adverse drug events and related costs for care of affected patients.

This toolkit is based on the Medications at Transitions and Clinical Handoffs (MATCH) Web site. MATCH was developed by Gary Noskin, M.D., and Kristine Gleason, R.Ph., of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, through the support of Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Grant No. 5 U18 HS015886 and collaboration between Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and The Joint Commission.

This toolkit incorporates the experiences and lessons learned by health care facilities that have implemented the MATCH strategies to improve their medication reconciliation processes.

Prepared by:

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Chicago, Illinois
Kristine Gleason, R.Ph.
Helga Brake, Pharm.D.

Island Peer Review Organization, Inc.
Lake Success, New York
Victoria Agramonte, R.N, M.S.N.
Carrie Perfetti, Esq.

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1. Building the Project Foundation: Gaining Leadership Support Within the Organization
Chapter 2. Building the Project Foundation: Project Teams and Scope
Chapter 3. Developing Change: Designing the Medication Reconciliation Process
Chapter 4. Developing and Pilot Testing Change: Implementing the Medication Reconciliation Process
Chapter 5. Education and Training
Chapter 6. Assessment and Process Evaluation
Chapter 7. High-Risk Situations for Medication Reconciliation
Conclusion
References
Appendix: The MATCH Work Plan

Acknowledgements

The authors, who were supported in part by AHRQ Contract No. HHSA2902009000 13C, are responsible for the content, findings, and conclusions in this document, and it does not necessarily represent the view of AHRQ. No statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

This document is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without permission except those copyrighted materials that are clearly noted in the document. Further reproduction of those copyrighted materials is prohibited without the specific permission of copyright holders.

Page last reviewed August 2012

Internet Citation: Medications at Transitions and Clinical Handoffs (MATCH) Toolkit for Medication Reconciliation. August 2012. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/patient-safety-resources/resources/match/index.html