The use of shared medication record as part of medication reconciliation at hospital admission is feasible

Introduction

Medication reconciliation improves congruence in cross sectional patient courses. Our regional electronic medical record (EMR) integrates the shared medication record (SMR) which provides full access to current medication and medication prescriptions for all citizens in Denmark. We studied whether our SMR integration could facilitate medication reconciliation.

Material and methods

Patients admitted to the emergency department for hospitalisation were randomised to consultation using EMR with or without the integrated SMR access. Observed time used for medication reconciliation was the primary efficacy parameter.

Results

A total of 62 consecutive patient consultations were randomised including 39 with more than five prescriptions. EMR had data from previous consultations for 46 patients, 59 patients provided information on medication. In all, 18 junior physicians in early postgraduate medical training each participated with a median of three consultations (range 1-9). Time expenditure for medicine reconciliation was 5:27 min.:sec. (range: 2:00-15:37) with access to SMR integration and 4:15 min.:sec. (1:15-12:00) without SMR access. The number of active medicine prescriptions was eight and nine, respectively. Incorporating SMR did not increase the work load. Physicians judged
the SMR integration and workflow as being useful. Patients unambiguously supported physicians’ use of SMR in this setting.

Conclusion

Integration of information on individuals’ medication from a national SMR into a hospital EMR was feasible and useful, and it did not increase time expenditure for medication reconciliation.

Funding

Not relevant.

Trial registration

Not relevant.

Correspondence: Lars K. Munck. E-mail: lkmu@regionsjaelland.dk

Conflicts of interest: Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at www.danmedj.dk

Reference: Dan Med J 2014;61(5):A4817