Impact of pharmacist involvement in the transitional care of high-risk patients through medication reconciliation, medication education, and postdischarge call-backs (IPITCH Study).

Phatak A, Prusi R, Ward B, et al. J Hosp Med. 2016;11:39-44.

Medication errors are a common cause of adverse events after hospital discharge. This randomized controlled trial found that integrating pharmacists into the discharge process improved patient satisfaction and reduced adverse drug events, emergency department visits, and readmissions in the 30 days after discharge. Pharmacists conducted medication reconciliation, provided patient education, and had multiple telephone contacts with patients after discharge.