The impact of community–pharmacist-led medication reconciliation process: Pharmacist-patient-centered medication reconciliation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients and their healthcare providers’ are in need to access a correct and complete list of all patients’ active bills for safe and effective clinical care. Currently, Healthcare Information Systems are not providing a proper access to the patients’ medications lists. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of community pharmacist-led medication reconciliation process in community pharmacies in the UAE through applying a pharmacist–patient-centered medication reconciliation (PPCMR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an interventional study of medication reconciliation process in 25 pharmacies in the UAE during July 1, 2019 till September 1, 2019. The participant pharmacists were surveyed and interviewed to gather more information about the barriers and enablers of the process before and after the implementation of PPCMR. RESULTS: After the implementation of PPCMR, medication reconciliation service was available in 84% of the pharmacies compared to 40% before the PPCMR (Z = –2.84, P = 0.005). The main workforce barriers to implement this service were reduced to 27% compared to 47% before the PPCMR. The operational barriers for the service were decreased from 56% to 28%. The facilitators in delivering the service in community pharmacies were improved from 29% to 63%. The active collaboration between the pharmacists and physicians was enhanced from 28% to 72% (Z = –3.2, P = 0.001) in the participated pharmacies. There is a statistically significant difference toward the impact of the PPCMR on the whole medication reconciliation service χ(2)(df = 3) = 200, P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Community pharmacists are not always accessible or well placed to provide a medication reconciliation service. The implementation of PPCMR in each community pharmacy will raise the expectations regarding the appropriateness of medication management and use.