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Monitoring Your Medicines in the Hospital

Table of Contents


Overview

Medicine errors can happen when you're in the hospital. As an active patient, you can keep careful track of the medicines you're getting and help prevent mistakes. Here are some things you can do to monitor your medicines and stay safe.

Medicine errors can happen after you leave the hospital too. Doctors may have prescribed pills you need to take at home. You may have other pills you take at home for other problems, but your hospital doctors may have changed those medicines or the dosage. It can get pretty confusing.

Before discharge, most hospitals do what's called a "medication reconciliation." It means that someone has looked at the medicines you were taking before your hospital stay, medicines you took during your stay, and medicines your doctors want you to take after your stay. The goal is to make sure that everything is correct and that there aren't any conflicts.

Before you leave the hospital, be sure you understand which medicines you should take and which medicines you should stop taking. If something doesn't seem right to you, ask questions.


Credits for Monitoring Your Medicines in the Hospital

Current as of: September 25, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.


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