Medication Reconciliation
What You Need To Know to be Safe
Medication Reconciliation saves lives and reduces medication errors!
What is it…
- A full review of all medications a resident is taking at each transition in care.
- Ensure new medications being added, changed or discontinued are appropriate.
- A joint effort between resident, familes and care providers.
- Completed on Admission, Transfer (to Emergency Department for example) and at Discharge.
- Involves a discussion with a nurse to create a Best Possible Medication History.
What is involved…
- A nurse will ask you (or your substitute decision maker) about the medications you take including non-prescription medications.
- A request will be made to your pharmacy or previous care provider for your “Most Current Medication List”.
What we ask of you…
- Bring all medications you had at home, in their original containers.
- Please provide all prescriptions (containers, bubble packs, samples, inhalers, eye drops, medicated patches).
- Also include any vitamins or herbal products that you are taking.
Key points…
- Make sure you tell us about any allergies, reactions or side-effects to medications you have had.
- Vitamins and supplements are medications. They can interact with other medications that you are taking.
- After we have your Medication Reconciliation completed, please do not bring new medications into your room.
- Under Nova Scotia law, no resident is allowed to keep unauthorized medications in their room in a Long-term Care facility.
- We encourage you to discuss any questions about medications with the care team.
Medication Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Let’s work together!
Contact
Northwood Bedford
123 Gary Martin Drive,
Bedford, NS B4B 0G7
902-407-8500
Northwood Halifax
2615 Northwood Terrace,
Halifax, NS B3K 3S5
902-454-8311
