Piloting Medication Histories in a Pediatric Postanesthesia Care Unit

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Anesthesiology
• Patient Safety
• Medication Management

Background:

• Medication errors are a significant concern in pediatric care, particularly during care transitions.
• Accurate medication histories are crucial for preventing adverse drug events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and pilot a medication history process for pediatric postanesthesia care unit (PACU) patients.
• To identify discrepancies between home and inpatient medication lists.
• To enhance patient safety by preventing medication errors.

Main Methods:

• A pilot evidence-based practice change was implemented to conduct PACU medication histories.
• Included were pediatric patients (ages 2-18) admitted to general care units at a tertiary care hospital.
• Data collected included home medication use (prescription, OTC), allergies, adherence, patient demographics, and medication error classifications, compared against medical records.

Main Results:

• Seventy-five medication histories were completed between June and July 2016, covering 44.6% of eligible patients.
• Seventy-four discrepancies were identified, with omissions being the most common type.
• Vitamins, herbals, and supplements were the medication categories with the highest frequency of errors.

Conclusions:

• The developed workflow effectively assessed the frequency and types of medication discrepancies in surgical patients.
• This process aids in identifying potential medication errors during the transition from PACU to general care units.
• Highlights the importance of comprehensive medication reconciliation in pediatric surgical patients.