A new California law will require pharmacist-led medication reviews for high-risk hospital patients at discharge starting Jan. 1, according to a Cedars-Sinai news release.
The law, promoted by Cedars-Sinai, aims to prevent harmful medication errors when patients leave the hospital, particularly those with complex treatment regimens.
“This new law should ideally be considered model legislation for adoption across the country,” Rita Shane, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer of Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai, told Becker’s. She said the requirement ensures pharmacy staff review medication lists for errors, such as incorrect dosages or failure to stop unsafe drugs.
Cedars-Sinai has implemented the practice for years, with internal studies showing error rates falling by as much as 60%.
Dr. Shane said close collaboration with physicians and care teams has been essential to improving medication safety during discharge transitions.
