Background: Medication Review (MRev) has been implemented in many hospitals to improve patient safety and well-being. However, it seems sometimes difficult to implement, maintain and systematize this process, especially when key-elements are absent. This study focuses on the analysis of a MRev process implemented in an Acute Geriatric Unit (AGU) which, at the time of the study, had no Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) and no sufficient staff to - normally - support the process.
Objective: This study describes the MRev process as existing in the AGU with a particular focus on the preparatory MRev meeting phase and presents our recommendations to maintain and optimize it.
Methods: Human Factor experts have collected and analyzed data during MRev process by interviews, shadowing observations and video recording from April to October 2014 at Lille University Hospital.
Results: MRev process consists of three phases (meeting preparation, MRev meeting and patient discharge) and includes seven main tasks for which actors, documented supports, outcomes and difficulties are identified. Although allocating a fulltime pharmacist for the AGU would solve several problems, the main realistic recommendations concern training for junior and senior actors according to their roles and the improvement of some tasks processes.
Conclusion: Despite less than optimal conditions as compared to those recommended by the literature, the observed AGU performs an efficient review based on well designed tools and processes.