RESIDENT: Evaluation of Admission Medication Reconciliation Completed by Psychiatry Residents for Patients Admitted to Inpatient Psychiatric Units in Edmonton
Presenting Author(s): Katarina Ondrusova
Co-Author(s): Dr. Sudhakar Sivapalan, Dr. Heidi Chau
Date and time: 20 Mar 2026 from 15:40 to 15:55
Location: Saddleback & Glacier
Learning Objectives
- Review of guidelines for medication reconciliation;
- Exploration of barriers to completion of medication reconciliation on a resident level; and
- Quality improvement on a resident level.
Abstract
Medication reconciliation is essential for ensuring appropriate and safe treatment in the hospital and to facilitate ongoing treatment in the community. It also helps to streamline communication between involved and future providers. Alberta Health Services (AHS) has a Required Organizational Practice (ROP) on medication reconciliation, in keeping with the standards outlined by Accreditation Canada to "enhance patient safety and minimize risk" (1,2). A Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) must be created at the time of admission and to be reconciled at care transitions (i.e. admission, transfer, discharge) within a 24h time frame in an acute care setting (2).
Based on personal and anecdotal experience, it is not infrequent that on completing discharge medication reconciliation from an inpatient psychiatric unit, a BPMH was not completed on admission. This creates confusion/uncertainty regarding medication changes in hospital, leading to additional time clarifying medications at the time of discharge. More concerningly, this may lead to medication errors at time of discharge. Therefore, the quality and safety of patient care at these important transfer of care junctures may be compromised.
This project is aimed at understanding and optimizing the completion of the BPMH for patients admitted to psychiatric inpatient units by psychiatry residents, with the goal of streamlining medication reconciliation. The project will have three main parts: 1) cross-sectional study to determine current admission medication reconciliation completion rate, 2) a qualitative survey to identify barriers, 3) creation of a workflow document/infographic, 4) cross-sectional study to evaluate outcome post intervention.
Literature References
- Accreditation Canada. May 2024. QMENTUM PROGRAM STANDARDS Mental Health and Addictions Services. https://albertahealthservices.sharepoint.com/teams/Insite Main/tms/acrd/tms-acrd-mental-health-and-addictions-services-2024.pdf
- Alberta Health Services. August 14, 2025 (revision effective date). Medication Reconciliation (#PS-05). https://publicshare.albertahealthservices.ca/teams/policydocuments/1/clp-medication-reconciliation-ps-05-policy.pdf