Successful Medication Reconciliation in an Acute Care Setting

Mackenzie Health is an innovative HIMSS Stage 7 hospital encompassing two full-service facilities: Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. These hospitals, along with community-based programs, cater to a population of over half a million in western York Region, part of the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. With 200,000+ annual Emergency Visits and 48,999 admissions, the organization employs 5200 staff and has 550 physicians. Focusing on technology-driven clinical improvements, the hospital's digital strategy prioritizes Medication Reconciliation to prevent adverse events due to medication discrepancies during care transitions. Mackenzie Health's 2017 implementation of an electronic medical record (EMR) aimed to enhance medication reconciliation by aligning workflows, leading to substantial compliance growth from 33% in 2019 to over 85% in 2022, with a notable reduction in patient stay length of 1.94 days.

Mackenzie Health operates two HIMSS Stage 7 hospitals in York Region, Canada, catering to a broad community. Both facilities handle substantial traffic, receiving 200,000+ Emergency Visits and nearly 49,000 admissions annually. Backed by 5200 staff and 550 physicians, the organization is committed to leveraging technology for better clinical outcomes. Their Medication Reconciliation initiative, addressing discrepancies during care transitions, is pivotal. After implementing an EMR in 2017 to streamline reconciliation processes, compliance improved remarkably, reaching over 85% in 2022 compared to a baseline of 33%. Importantly, early reconciliation led to a significant 1.94-day reduction in patient stay length, showcasing the strategy's tangible impact on patient outcomes.