The primary purpose of reconciliation on admission is:

• A. Identify and resolve discrepancies between home meds and prescribed meds to prevent med errors
• B. Update insurance information
• C. Stop all home medications
• D. Document only new prescriptions

Answer: (A)

Medication reconciliation on admission ensures that the medications a patient takes at home are accurately reviewed and aligned with what will be prescribed in the hospital, so any differences can be corrected before harm occurs. The primary goal is to identify and resolve discrepancies between home medications and hospital orders to prevent med errors such as omissions, duplications, wrong dosages, or harmful interactions. This involves gathering a complete and current medication list from the patient or caregiver, verifying it with the patient’s pharmacy when possible, and comparing it with the new hospital regimen. By doing so, clinicians can confirm which meds should be continued, changed, stopped, or adjusted, and clearly communicate these decisions to the patient and care team. This process directly supports patient safety by reducing the risk of adverse drug events at the point of admission.

Other options don’t focus on medication safety. Updating insurance information isn’t about medications. Stopping all home medications isn’t appropriate without clinical justification. Documenting only new prescriptions ignores the patient’s existing regimen and can miss important continuities or conflicts.