Understanding Trainee and Patient Behaviors to Enhance Medication Reconciliation Processes in the Outpatient Neurology Clinic: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Alex Luke1, Kailee Bunte1, Hayden Johnson1, Suhaira Ahmad1, Binod Wagle2
1UMKC School of Medicine, 2University Health
Objective:
This quality improvement research project aims to address trainee behaviors and identify patient beliefs regarding the medication reconciliation process and its importance in the outpatient neurology clinic. By defining barriers to the process and understanding what tools can overcome these barriers, we seek to improve medication reconciliation as a pivotal instrument for effective delivery of patient care.
Background:
Medication reconciliation is a critical component of safe healthcare delivery, particularly in neurology clinics where patients often present with complex conditions managed by multiple medications. Barriers to effectively completing this process in the ambulatory setting exist in several forms; understanding the clinician and patient view of its importance can improve clinic visits and quality of care.
Design/Methods:
This project employed a multifaceted approach: pre-intervention assessment of trainees, staff training, post-intervention survey, and concomitant patient survey. Trainees were surveyed at the beginning of the research period. After attending an educational seminar on medication reconciliation tools, trainees were surveyed again. Patient records were reviewed to evaluate the percentage of encounters with medication reconciliation completed. Patients were also surveyed to determine barriers to this process in an effort to seek solutions in educating trainees and clinic staff.
Results:
Chi-square test was performed to compare pre-intervention and post-intervention patients seen by trainees during their neurology clinic encounters. The odds of trainees performing medication reconciliation prior to training is 0.91x the odds following training, though not statistically significant. The study also found a clear difference in the methods by which trainees and patients believed medication reconciliation to be most effective.
Conclusions:
Improving medication reconciliation in outpatient neurology clinics is crucial for optimizing patient care, reducing medication-related errors, and enhancing the overall quality of healthcare delivery. This project seeks to contribute to the development of best practices for medication reconciliation in this clinical setting, leading to better patient outcomes and satisfaction.