In hospital settings, medication reconciliation stands as a cornerstone in patient safety efforts, ensuring accurate medication histories and preventing adverse drug events. Pharmacy technicians play a pivotal role in this process, offering indispensable support to pharmacists and healthcare teams. As hospital pharmacy leaders and executives navigate the complexities of healthcare delivery, harnessing the full potential of pharmacy technicians in medication reconciliation becomes paramount for optimizing patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

The Role of Pharmacy Technicians in Medication Reconciliation

Pharmacy technicians are instrumental in ensuring comprehensive and accurate medication reconciliation processes within hospital environments. Their responsibilities include gathering medication histories from patients and caregivers, verifying medication lists, and documenting relevant information for pharmacists and clinicians. By meticulously reviewing discrepancies and collaborating with other healthcare providers, technicians help mitigate risks associated with medication errors and improve overall patient safety.

Moreover, pharmacy technicians are adept at utilizing technology-driven solutions for reconciling medications across transitions of care, such as admissions, transfers, and discharges. Their proficiency in pharmacy information systems and electronic health records enables them to streamline workflows and maintain up-to-date medication records, thereby supporting seamless transitions and continuity of care for patients.

Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC) streamlined their medication reconciliation processes in 2021 when they deployed a single pharmacy technician to the Emergency Department (ED) to assist nursing with obtaining medication histories. This initiative resulted after experiencing increased and continuous reports of medication errors related to medication reconciliation. One-year post implementation, their rate of medication errors related to inappropriate or inaccurate medication histories had reduced by 80%. To this date, URMC has added a second pharmacy technician to the ED, allowing seven-day coverage, and have achieved the Leapfrog standard for medication reconciliation. Heather Riggins, Director of Pharmacy at URMC, states that hiring competent pharmacy technicians and ensuring they are trained up to obtain the best possible medication history is critical.

Strategies for Hiring Qualified Pharmacy Technicians

To bolster medication reconciliation efforts, hospital pharmacy leaders should adopt strategic approaches for hiring qualified pharmacy technicians:

1. Competency-Based Recruitment: Implementing competency-based assessments during the hiring process ensures that candidates possess essential skills in medication reconciliation, attention to detail, and proficiency in pharmaceutical software systems. URMC administers a didactic exam that includes matching generic/trade names for the top 200 drugs, identifying appropriate indications for medications, and hypothetical case studies for critical thinking skills.

2. Collaborative Hiring Practices: Involving pharmacists and competent pharmacy technicians in the recruitment process facilitates the selection of candidates who align with the hospital’s patient safety goals and organizational culture. URMC utilizes peer interviews for all hiring candidates, which includes a tour of the pharmacy and hospital. This gives our entire department buy-in on potential new hires. During the tour, staff can observe how the interviewing candidate presents themselves, interacts with others in the organization, and communicates in a more laid-back setting versus at the head of table. Additionally, the peer interview team conducts a mock patient scenario for medication reconciliation to test the candidate’s attention to detail and communication skills.

3. Continued Professional Development: Emphasizing the importance of ongoing education and certification encourages pharmacy technicians to stay abreast of evolving practices in medication reconciliation and enhances their contribution to patient care. URMC candidates are encouraged to obtain specialized training and receive reimbursement for these efforts.

Developing a Strong Training Program

Creating a structured training program is integral to preparing pharmacy technicians for their role in medication reconciliation:

1. Comprehensive Orientation: Offering thorough orientation sessions familiarizes new hires with hospital protocols, medication reconciliation procedures, and the importance of patient safety standards. Society of Hospital Medicine Train the Trainer Materials provides an excellent supplemental guide for training.

2. Hands-On Experience: Providing opportunities for practical training under the supervision of experienced pharmacists and pharmacy technicians allows new hires to refine their skills in medication history taking, data entry accuracy, and effective communication with patients and healthcare teams.

3. Continuous Feedback and Evaluation: Implementing regular performance evaluations and feedback sessions enables technicians to identify areas for improvement and ensures adherence to quality standards in medication reconciliation practices.

4. Integration of Technology: Incorporating training modules on pharmacy information systems and electronic health records equips technicians with the necessary tools to facilitate efficient medication reconciliation processes.

By investing in the recruitment of skilled pharmacy technicians and cultivating a culture of continuous learning and development, hospital pharmacy leaders can strengthen medication reconciliation initiatives. Empowering pharmacy technicians with the knowledge, resources, and support they need fosters collaborative healthcare environments where patient safety remains the top priority.

The role of pharmacy technicians in medication reconciliation is indispensable for ensuring accurate medication histories and promoting patient safety in hospital settings. Through strategic recruitment practices and comprehensive training programs, pharmacy leaders can harness the full potential of technicians to optimize medication reconciliation processes and enhance overall healthcare outcomes. By prioritizing these efforts, hospitals can uphold the highest standards of care and improve the well-being of patients across transitions of care.

References:

https://www.hospitalmedicine.org/clinical-topics/medication-reconciliat…