Question
- Population: US adults discharged from a hospital;
- Intervention: utilizing medication reconciliation;
- Comparison: usual care;
- Outcome: hospital readmissions;
- Time: 30 days.
Question: “To what extent can utilizing medication rehabilitation (I) reduce the risk of hospital readmissions (O) in US adults discharged from a hospital (P) undergoing usual care (C) within 30 days (T)?”
The Clinical Problem
The clinical problem worth paying attention to is raised readmission to hospitals in the US. This is one of the well-known issues that cause concern among medical professionals, other individuals, society, the country, and its government. As a rule, certain assumptions in treatment are revealed within 30 days after discharge; the elderly and people with poorer health are at significant risk of contacting a medical institution again (Glans et al., 2020). It is no secret that repeated hospitalization entails a low quality of care and high costs (Upadhyay et al., 2019). Such cases are generally always considered unfavorable outcomes for patients, involving additional health care costs.
How the Problem Can Result in a Positive Patient Outcome
Indeed, repeated hospitalization will allow patients to completely eliminate the existing ailments and provide preventive measures for prospects. Nonetheless, the designated trouble still remains poorly understood, and current solutions are not as effective and productive as we would like. In accordance with this fact, the use of the “pharmaceutical approval process” would greatly simplify and improve the patient care procedure, further minimizing the chances of re-hospitalization.
Evidence-Based Solution
Qualified distribution of medicines, their application, and their use in practice is the key to outstanding achievements and high results in the medical field. It is known that prescription approval, coupled with several other initiatives, has reduced repeat hospitalizations compared to “routine” patient care (Dautzenberg et al., 2021). Medication reconciliation is a collective effort that requires experience, time, and resources; it is not a personal desire (Patel et al., 2019). Accordingly, through the joint efforts of people involved in healthcare, it is possible to lessen the likelihood of medical errors and stop the problem, at least in general terms.
Nursing Intervention
Utilizing medication reconciliation is one of the best and most reliable ways to solve the issue. Still, by no means it is not the only element that meets the needs of citizens in quality treatment and prevention. Coordination of medication intake permits a healthcare professional and a patient to be “on the same wavelength” (The importance of medication reconciliation, 2018). Thus, medical services are adequately met and disclosed in the best possible way.
Patient Care
The designated initiative has a fairly wide range of positive aspects for patient care. Often, people receive noticeable benefits, as well as reducing the risks of possible undesirable events and phenomena, in particular those associated with taking medications (Choi & Kim, 2019). Proper medication is a responsible matter and it depends on whether the drugs will help a person cope with the disease and how quickly it will happen.
Health Care Agency
Furthermore, it is also worth noting such a crucial moment as the relationship of a specific intervention with a Health Care Agency. At least, the “service provider” agrees and approves medicines intended to treat sick people. This is caused by a particular concern for the country’s individuals, well-being, and prosperity. Patients can use the prescribed medical products with complete confidence, without fear of further outcomes.
Nursing Practice
Utilizing medicine rehabilitation, at best, should enter the practice of nurses in each of the regions of the United States. Unfortunately, the tendency to use this solution is not so common in modern medical practice (Krivanek, 2019). In particular, this process is not even covered in specialized educational institutions where future nurses study (Krivanek, 2019). Due to this intervention, the coordination and control of medication intake methods will be adjusted, and the problem of re-hospitalization should be “mitigated.”
References
Choi, Y. J., & Kim, H. (2019). Effect of pharmacy‐led medication reconciliation in emergency departments: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 44(6), pp. 932-945. Web.
Dautzenberg, L., Bretagne, L., Koek, H. L., Tsokani, S., Zevgiti, S., Rodondi, N.,… & Knol, W. (2021). Medication review interventions to reduce hospital readmissions in older people. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 69(6), pp. 1646-1658. Web.
Glans, M., Kragh Ekstam, A., Jakobsson, U., Bondesson, Å., & Midlöv, P. (2020). Risk factors for hospital readmission in older adults within 30 days of discharge–a comparative retrospective study. BMC Geriatrics, 20(1), pp. 1-12. Web.
Krivanek, M. J., Dolansky, M. A., Kukla, A., Ramic, M., Guliano, J., Waite, P., & Small, D. (2019). Perspectives from academic and practice leaders on nursing student’s education and role in medication reconciliation. Journal of Professional Nursing, 35(2), pp. 75-80. Web.
Patel, E., Pevnick, J. M., & Kennelty, K. A. (2019). Pharmacists and medication reconciliation: a review of recent literature. Integrated Pharmacy Research & Practice, 8, p. 39. Web.
The importance of medication reconciliation. (2018). Meritus Health. Web.
Upadhyay, S., Stephenson, A. L., & Smith, D. G. (2019). Readmission rates and their impact on hospital financial performance: a study of Washington hospitals. Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 56, pp. 1-10. Web.