Medicine communication from hospital to residential aged care facilities: a cross-sectional survey of aged care facility staff. October 30, 2024

https://psnet.ahrq.gov/issue/medicine-communication-hospital-residential-aged-care-facilities-cross-sectional-survey-aged Medicine communication from hospital to residential aged care facilities: a cross-sectional survey of aged care facility staff. Browning S, Raleigh RA, Hattingh HL. Int J Clin Pharm. 2024;Epub Sep 30. Transitions of care present challenges, such as loss of information or misunderstandings, that can negatively impact patient safety. This study explored how residential aged care facilities (RACF) manage medications when residents enter the facility from a hospital. The authors state that a resident discharged from the hospital to RACF ideally receives a supply of new or changed medications, a hard copy of a discharge summary, an interim medication administration record (IMAR), and, if discharged from the ED, an Emergency Department Discharge Medication Administration Record. Responses from 31 RACF demonstrated these practices vary widely, with less than half always receiving an IMAR and one-third always receiving a hard copy of the discharge summary.