Posthospital Medication Discrepancies

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Abstract
National attention to the problem of medical errors in general and medication errors in particular has increased significantly over the past decade.1 However, this attention has primarily focused on errors occurring within specific settings. Despite the frequency with which older patients transition across settings,2,3 few studies have explored the prevalence and types of medication problems experienced by patients who receive care across different settings. Multiple practitioners in unaffiliated institutions may unknowingly prescribe duplicate or contraindicated medication regimens. These inadvertent prescribing actions not only contribute to suboptimal treatment of chronic illnesses, they may also potentially jeopardize patient safety.