Risk management at an Intensive Care Department: conciliation of medication

Abstract

To explain the implementation process of conciliation of medication as one measure included in the risk management program at an Intensive Care department. A multidisciplinary team was put together to work on a risk management program. Work meetings were held from January to December of 2011. The development of the risk management program was done in sequential stages; identification of potential risks; analysis and assessment, management, set-up, implementation, follow-up, and reassessment. In total, 17 potential risks were identified, of which those with the highest scores given by the working group were analyzed and managed. Conciliation of medication was included. For managing this particular risk, conciliation of medication was proposed as an improvement measure, for which the pharmacist was in charge of its implementation. Besides, he also was in charge of the follow-up and reassessment process to assure its efficacy by designing indicators allowing periodic monitoring. The implementation of a clinical risks management program aims at reducing the errors and consequently improving the patient's safety. The inclusion of the pharmacist in the Intensive Care units contributes to achieving this goal and therefore we should accept our duties in the implementation of this kind of measures, such as conciliation of medication.