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Defining the Safety Problem
- 11% of all hospital admissions are due to medication complications
- Inadequate patient medication education is a common reason for non-adherent behaviors and is an independent risk factor for unplanned 30-day hospital readmission
- Haynes 2004, Marcantonio 1999
- U.S. and Canadian studies have documented inconsistencies in the medication education component of hospital discharge resulting in poor patient knowledge of their medications
- Alibhai 1999, King 1998, Cortis 1996
- Barriers to hospital-based medication education by pharmacists include lack of time, no organized or systematic program for education, and inadequate discharge notification
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