Using Technology to Improve Medication Safety

Part of keeping our patients safe is ensuring that they receive appropriate medications throughout their stay in hospital – the right medication, the right dose, and at the right time.

At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), one way that medication safety is addressed in a process called Medication Reconciliation. Medication Reconciliationis comparing and compiling multiple sources of information to create an accurate list of the patient’s medications prior to admission.

At CKHA, we are going to improve the medication reconciliation process by using our electronic documentation system to gather the patient’s home medication list. Later this spring when a nurse or pharmacy technician retrieves your medication information, they will bring a computer to the bedside and save it on your electronic chart. The healthcare team can refer to this list at any point in your stay and even on a following visit.

If you are a patient or a caregiver of someone who is coming to the hospital, make sure you bring an up-to-date list of all medications including puffers, shots, herbs, lotions, samples, drops and over-the-counter pills. It is a simple step in a complex situation that can help to keep you or your family member safe.