FPGEE for National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Practice Exam

The primary goal of appropriate medication reconciliation is to ensure the principles of the five rights of medication administration. This process is essential in healthcare, particularly during transitions of care, as it helps to confirm that patients receive the correct medication, at the correct dose, via the correct route, at the correct time, and for the correct purpose.

By reviewing and comparing a patient’s medication orders to all of the medications that the patient has been taking, healthcare professionals aim to prevent errors such as omissions, duplications, dosing errors, or drug interactions. This practice enhances patient safety and helps ensure that patients are well-informed about their medications, which is critical in avoiding adverse drug events.

While reducing medication costs, improving drug manufacturing processes, and standardizing drug labeling are important in their own right, they do not capture the immediate clinical goal of medication reconciliation, which centers on adhering to the principles that ensure safe and effective medication administration for individual patients.