Roles for Pharmacy Technicians in Medication Reconciliation During Transitions of Care

Abstract

Objective: To provide an overview of medication reconciliation and to identify opportunities for pharmacy technicians to help improve patient safety and quality of care. Data Sources: Articles were identified through searches conducted in May 2016 by means of MEDLINE/PubMed (2000-2016) using search terms designed to identify English-language articles describing the role of the pharmacy technician, medication reconciliation, and transitions of care. Additionally, resources on medication reconciliation were used from The Joint Commission, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, American Pharmacists Association, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Articles describing the role of the pharmacy technician, medication reconciliation, and transitions of care. Data Synthesis: Pharmacy technicians can help pharmacists perform medication reconciliation by taking on 3 specific roles in the process: obtaining preadmission medication history, obtaining relevant patient information from outpatient pharmacies and health care providers, and documenting the compiled medication list. Pharmacy technicians can help resolve discrepancies in medication lists, therefore improving patient care, the ability of pharmacists to communicate with physicians, and thus to clinically intervene in patient care. Furthermore, with proper training, pharmacy technicians may take on expanded roles designed to aid pharmacists with advanced patient care services to eliminate medication discrepancies and improve transition of care. Conclusions: Pharmacy technicians can play a vital role in helping pharmacists to obtain accurate patient medication histories in order to decrease medication discrepancies at transitions of care.