(5) Explain the importance of managing medication information to the patient when he or she is discharged from the hospital or at the end of an outpatient encounter:

So many medications come with adverse effects and drug-to-drug interactions. Performing a medication reconciliation prior to discharge is so important. It can help prevent drug interactions and can prevent the same drug from being prescribed twice. When someone is discharge, it’s important to get a gauge on their knowledge of their medications. It’s important patients know how to take, when to take, and where to store their medications in order to receive the proper effect. I learned the importance of managing medication information when interviewing my friend for this assignment. I had realized the dangers of not knowing proper administration and dosage of medications. In todays society, we feel very comfortable taking over the counter meds and often don’t realize they come with adverse reactions just like our prescriptions. By making sure a patient is on the same page as their provide, in regard to medications, it can help promote healthy patient outcomes. Managing medication information can also identify any potential problems. For example a patient could be taking an OTC drug that interacts with a prescription they received in their hospital stay. By providing proper medication education prior to discharge, we can ensure patient safety.