Providing a medication discharge plan to community pharmacies and physicians at hospital discharge did not significantly decrease the rate of medication discrepancies compared with usual care.
RCT (n=83)
Open-label
randomized
Does sending a medication discharge plan to community pharmacies and treating physicians reduce medication discrepancies in hospitalized patients transitioning to outpatient care?
Providing a medication discharge plan directly to community pharmacies and primary physicians did not reduce the rate of medication discrepancies during transitions of care compared to usual care.
PURPOSE: The effect of a medication discharge plan (MDP) on the rate of medication discrepancies between hospital and outpatient settings was evaluated. METHODS: In a pragmatic, open, randomized, controlled trial, MDPs were completed for all patients before discharge from the hospital. Patients were then assigned to either an MDP group, for whom MDPs were sent to community pharmacies and treating physicians, or a usual care group, for whom an MDP was not sent. Discrepancies between MDPs and community pharmacy dispensing records and medication use reported by patients during a telephone interview were documented. The percentage of patients with discrepancies and the mean percentage of medications with discrepancies were compared between the two groups. The clinical severity of discrepancies was blindly evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients agreed to participate in the study. The percentage of patients with at least one discrepancy was high and similar in both groups when MDPs were compared with pharmacy dispensing records and patient self-reports. Comparison of MDPs to pharmacy dispensing records revealed discrepancies for 13-15% of medications; more than a third were clinically significant. Comparison of MDPs to patient self-reports revealed discrepancies for 10-12% of medications; 48% were clinically significant. No significant differences were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The rate of medication discrepancies was not decreased in patients whose MDP was provided to their community pharmacy and physician at the time of hospital discharge compared with the rate in patients who received usual care.
Lalonde et al. (2008) conducted an RCT in Transitions of care from hospital to outpatient settings (n=83). Medication discharge plan (MDP) sent to community pharmacies and treating physicians vs. Usual care (MDP not sent) was evaluated on Percentage of patients with discrepancies and mean percentage of medications with discrepancies. Providing a medication discharge plan to community pharmacies and physicians at hospital discharge did not significantly decrease the rate of medication discrepancies compared with usual care.