Enhancing Medication Safety and Care Transitions: A Systematic Review of Roles and Strategies in Healthcare Settings

Background: Medication reconciliation is a critical process for ensuring patient safety during transitions of care, particularly in preventing medication discrepancies that can lead to adverse events. Various healthcare professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, and nurses, play pivotal roles in this process. Studies highlight challenges and barriers in medication reconciliation, such as unclear role allocation, insufficient collaboration, and a lack of knowledge. Methods: A systematic review of existing literature was conducted, including studies from databases such as PubMed and Scopus, to assess the roles of healthcare professionals in medication reconciliation, identify discrepancies, and evaluate strategies to improve this process. Inclusion criteria focused on studies related to medication reconciliation during transitions of care, particularly in hospital settings, and involving interdisciplinary teams. Results: The findings revealed that physicians, pharmacists, and nurses have distinct but overlapping responsibilities in medication reconciliation. Pharmacists were identified as essential in managing medication discrepancies, while nurses contributed significantly to communication and patient education. However, barriers such as role ambiguity, inadequate training, and lack of interprofessional collaboration hindered the effectiveness of the process. Successful strategies included structured medication reconciliation protocols, clear role definitions, and the involvement of pharmacists in routine transitions of care. Conclusion: Medication reconciliation is a crucial component of safe transitions of care, requiring the collaboration of multiple healthcare professionals. To enhance its effectiveness, role clarity, improved communication, and interprofessional education are essential. Future research should focus on refining these strategies and evaluating their impact on patient outcomes, particularly in reducing readmissions and improving medication safety.