ISMP Medication Reconciliation

Question 1

Medication reconciliation is defined as the process of:

Accepted Answer

Comparing a patient's medication orders to all medications the patient has been taking to avoid discrepancies

Answer

Filling prescriptions faster

Answer

Counting pills in the pharmacy

Answer

Billing for medications

Question 2

According to ISMP, medication reconciliation is most critical at which points in a patient's care?

Accepted Answer

At every transition of care: admission, transfer, and discharge

Answer

Only at hospital admission

Answer

Only when a patient changes physicians

Answer

Only during annual check-ups

Question 3

A 'best possible medication history' (BPMH) used in medication reconciliation should ideally include information from:

Accepted Answer

Multiple sources: patient interview, caregiver, community pharmacy, and prior records

Answer

The prescriber's memory only

Answer

Insurance records only

Answer

The patient's online social media

Question 4

Which type of discrepancy found during medication reconciliation is considered most dangerous by ISMP?

Accepted Answer

Omission of a critical chronic medication

Answer

A change in pill color

Answer

A generic substitution

Answer

A change in tablet scoring

Question 5

ISMP recommends involving patients and families in medication reconciliation because:

Accepted Answer

They often know medications not captured in medical records, such as OTC drugs and supplements

Answer

It reduces pharmacist workload entirely

Answer

Patients always have complete records

Answer

It eliminates the need for pharmacist review

Question 6

According to ISMP, the most common cause of medication reconciliation errors at hospital discharge is:

Accepted Answer

Incomplete communication of the discharge medication list to the patient and next care provider

Answer

Too many pharmacists

Answer

Electronic health records

Answer

Overly cautious physicians