Best Practice #21 FAQ
Best Practice #21: Implement strategies to prevent medication errors at transitions in the continuum of care.
1. Question: Are pharmacy technicians included as practitioners to obtain medication histories?
Answer: Yes, ISMP has seen successful medication reconciliation processes that involve the use of dedicated pharmacy technicians for collection of patients' medication histories.
2. Question: Does ISMP recommend pharmacy technicians ensure medication and doses ordered are correct therapy for that patient given their current state of health?
Answer: No, ISMP would not recommend a pharmacy technician to ensure the appropriateness of medications and doses based on a patient’s current state of health. We see this function being completed by a pharmacist, followed by the reconciliation completed and documented by a provider.
Rev. 1/10/2024