Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist (CHTS) Process Workflow & Information Management Redesign Practice Exam

What is the primary goal of medication reconciliation?

1. To prescribe new medications

2. To ensure a complete and accurate medication list

3. To educate patients about their medications

4. To eliminate all prescription medication

The correct answer is: To ensure a complete and accurate medication list

The primary goal of medication reconciliation is to ensure a complete and accurate medication list. This process involves reviewing a patient's medication history to identify and resolve discrepancies such as omissions, duplications, dosing errors, or interactions that may occur when patients transition between different care settings, such as from hospital to home or from one healthcare provider to another. Having an accurate medication list is crucial for preventing medication errors, ensuring patient safety, and providing effective treatment. This accurate list helps healthcare providers make informed decisions regarding the patient's care and avoid potential adverse drug interactions. It also acts as a foundation for other aspects of medication management, including patient education, which is vital but secondary to the primary goal of maintaining accuracy in the medication list. While prescribing new medications and educating patients are important components of patient management, they are not the primary focus of medication reconciliation itself. Eliminating all prescription medications does not align with the concept of reconciliation, as the goal is to optimize the patient's medication regimen rather than to remove necessary medications.