Experts reach consensus on personal med record parameters

A medication list that includes patients' current medications and only the most relevant information about their care will be an effective tool to tackle one of the most challenging obstacles to the smooth delivery of care facing patients. This, according to health care providers at the recent Continuity of Care in Medication Use Summit, hosted by ASHP and the ASHP Research and Education Foundation. Thirty healthcare professionals from numerous disciplines met to discuss a best standard for patient medication lists and to determine how they can be used most effectively in ensuring high-quality patient care. The group agreed that to encourage wide use by patients, a medication list must be simple, including only current medications instead of a complete medication history, and the most relevant information. Among the agreed-upon data elements to be included on a medication list are: a patient's personal information; details about allergies and other medicine-related problems; and a list of current medicines, including the amount used, frequency of use and how each is taken, and information about who prescribed or recommended the medication.

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