Accreditation practice pointer: medicines list

QI2.2 D Our clinical team ensures that patients and other health providers to whom we refer receive an accurate and current medicines list.

RACGP Standards for general practice.

General practice can reduce the risk of errors being made when prescribing or referring by keeping an accurate and current medicines list and referral letters in each patient’s health record. This means GPs need to:

  • confirm a patient’s current medicines list and known allergies before prescribing or changing treatment

  • mark acute medications, including antibiotics, as non-current when they are no longer required (some clinical software packages will automatically mark acute medicines as non-current when the calculated duration of the supply has expired)

  • use reviews of the patient’s medicines list as an opportunity to assess the patient’s compliance with their medication regimen, and identify the need for any further education or support.

  • ask the patient if they take any medicines not prescribed or advised within the practice because of the potential for side effects and drug interactions

  • include the confirmed list of the patient’s current medication in letters of referral, including those for hospital admissions.

Margot Schoonmaker