How should I count vitamins, calcium supplements, and herbal agents — which are not routinely ordered in our hospital — in reconciliation review of home medication lists?
The reconciliation review methods currently included on IHI.org focus only on reconciliation of prescription medications. Once you have clearly established your reconciliation review process for prescribed medications, you can then add herbals, vitamins, and other supplements to the review process. Provide a separate space on the admission medication order form to list these types of drugs, perhaps with a default order not to continue them so that these drugs are considered reconciled without a call to the physician.
