Medication Reconciliation and Patient Safety: Mandatory JCAHO goals

Goal 8: Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care.

8A: Implement a process for obtaining and documenting a complete list of the patient's current medications upon the patient's entry to the organization and with the involvement of the patient. This process includes a comparison of the medications the organization provides to those on the list. The complete list of medications is also provided to the patient on discharge from the facility (new for 2007).

8B: A complete list of the patient's medications is communicated to the next provider of service when a patient is referred or transferred to another setting, service, practitioner or level of care within or outside the organization.

Goal 13: Encourage patients' active involvement in their own care as a patient safety strategy.

13 A: Define and communicate the means for patients and families to report concerns about safety and encourage them to do so (new for 2007).

Information from JCAHO - www.jointcommission.org