Page 6 - Hospitalists - Risks When You're the Doctor in the House (Part Two)

SVMIC Hospitalists - Risks When You’re the Doctor in the House

reconciliation problem, the patient was seen by different

cardiologists after discharge, and the amiodarone dosage was
not verified at any of these office visits. Finally, the abnormal lab

results were lacking in follow-up and final results.

High-Risk Medications

Having a reliable and consistent system for newly prescribed
or high-risk medications is crucial. When first initiating high-

risk medication therapy, the patient should be educated as
to the indications for the medication, the potential risks and

benefits, potential side effects and how to manage them,
the importance of monitoring if applicable, dietary and

alcohol interactions, and medication and herbal supplement
interactions. When appropriate, a family member or friend

should be included in this discussion. Educational tools such as
written materials and/or videos can reinforce the face-to-face

counseling by the physician, and these educational materials
should be available for immediate printing to supplement and

document the discussion. Many EHRs have a pre-programmed
default to prompt discussion at the point of discharge and to

print the relevant educational materials for the patient. The
need to monitor the medication and importance of follow-up

appointments for a patient on chronic medications should be
clearly outlined for the patient. Finally, these educational efforts,

along with the patient’s understanding of the vital role they play
in his or her therapy, should be documented in the medical

record.

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