What is the main purpose of medication reconciliation?

The main purpose of medication reconciliation is to systematically compare a patient's current medication orders with all medications that the patient has been taking. This process is crucial for ensuring that there is an accurate and comprehensive list of medications, which helps to identify any discrepancies such as omissions, duplications, dosing errors, or potential drug interactions. The reconciliation aims to prevent medication errors when patients transition between different care settings, such as upon hospital admission, transfer between units, or discharge.

While other aspects like medication compliance, communication errors, and understanding are important in the overall medication management process, they are not the primary focus of medication reconciliation. The reconciliation process emphasizes the accuracy of medication lists to ensure safe prescribing and administration, thereby directly addressing potential safety issues related to medication therapy.