AHRQ Toolkit to Improve Medication Reconciliation

By Joyce Hospodar

Nationally, medication reconciliation is a huge issue. Several years ago, the Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility Program conducted an assessment and provided ideas to the state’s Critical Access Hospitals to help improve their medication reconciliation process.

Just released from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is a new toolkit to help hospitals improve their medication reconciliation processes to reduce adverse drug events. The Medications at Transitions and Clinical Handoffs (MATCH) Toolkit provides step-by-step instructions on how to improve a medication reconciliation process, from planning to pilot testing, implementation, and evaluation. A workbook is included that helps users implement the Toolkit. One essential element that is included in the Toolkit is a list of ‘talking points” for making a sound argument to undertake a medication reconciliation process. Making the connection to other ongoing patient safety initiatives, regulatory/accreditation requirements and operational efficiencies are important to obtain hospital wide support.

Please let the Center for Rural Health staff know what you think!! View the Toolkit

Joyce A. Hospodar, MBA, MPA Manager, Community Health Systems Arizona State Office of Rural Health Program Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program  Location: Drachman Hall, A219R  Phone: 520-626-2432 Email: hospodar@u.arizona.edu