MedRec at LGH celebrates first anniversary with success stories

As we approach the first anniversary of Medication Reconciliation (MedRec) implementation at Lions Gate Hospital for emergent patient admissions, the project team wanted to pass along some of the more noteworthy “good catches” that have been made by staff following the process:

• Non prescription medication for an elderly patient causing adverse events– An Emergency nurse collected a Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) that included Metamucil, an over-the-counter bulk laxative. The patient was using this product regularly without adequate fluid intake, a contra-indication for Metamucil. The patient also had a history of bowel obstruction requiring surgery and hospital readmissions. Even though Metamucil was not ordered on admission, the transparent history information on the MedRec Order form (MRO) prompted a team member to counsel the patient to cease use of the product on discharge.
• Transplant patient on different dose of critical medication and weaned off another – On admission, a kidney transplant patient was ordered her Tacolimus (anti-rejection) and Zopiclone (sedative) medications according to the dosages listed on her PharmaNet profile. When the pharmacist later interviewed the patient to verify the BPMH, the patient was actually taking a higher Tacrolimus dosage due to recent low Tacrolimus blood level. She had also stopped her Zopiclone a month ago after a long weaning process to avoid sedative dependence. These unintentional discrepancies were communicated to the prescriber and resolved.

With these kinds of success stories, it’s easy to see the kind of difference that MedRec can make for LGH patients by reducing unintentional medication discrepancies that can result in patient harm and/or increase length of hospital stay.

“We’d like to thank the many LGH nurses, physicians and pharmacists who’ve been collecting a Best Possible Medication History for their patients on the MedRec Order form on admission,” says Co-Senior Medical Director Dr. Richard Lupton. “Having an up-to-date and accurate medication list from a patient, their family members, or caregivers is so much more reliable than going solely by a patient’s PharmaNet profile.”

For more information on MedRec at LGH, contact Mary Shyng. or Karen Mayo.