Evaluation of Time Spent by Pharmacists and Nurses Based on the Location of Pharmacist Involvement in Medication History Collection.
BACKGROUND
Accurate history collection is integral to medication reconciliation. Studies support pharmacy involvement in the process, but assessment of global time spent is limited. The authors hypothesized the location of a medication-focused interview would impact time spent.


METHODS
The objective was to compare time spent by pharmacists and nurses based on the location of a medication-focused interview. Time spent by the interviewing pharmacist, admitting nurse, and centralized pharmacist verifying admission orders was collected. Patient groups were based on whether the interview was conducted in the emergency department (ED) or medical floor. The primary end point was a composite of the 3 time points. Secondary end points were individual time components and number and types of transcription discrepancies identified during medical floor interviews.


RESULTS
Pharmacists and nurses spent an average of ten fewer minutes per ED patient versus a medical floor patient (P = .028). Secondary end points were not statistically significant. Transcription discrepancies were identified at a rate of 1 in 4 medications. Post hoc analysis revealed the time spent by pharmacists and nurses was 2.4 minutes shorter per medication when interviewed in the ED (P < .001).


DISCUSSION
The primary outcome was statistically and clinically significant. Limitations included inability to blind and lack of cost-saving analysis.


CONCLUSION
Pharmacist involvement in ED medication reconciliation leads to time savings during the admission process.
['Chhabra|Anmol|A|', 'Quinn|Andrea|A|', 'Ries|Amanda|A|']
D000368:Aged D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007407:Interviews as Topic D008297:Male D059065:Medication Reconciliation D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital D010343:Patient Admission D010595:Pharmacists D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital D013997:Time Factors
time pharmacist medication reconciliation emergency