Optimizing Elderly Health: Med Reconciliation & PCC

Practical and Theoretical Interventions

Medication reconciliation is a practical intervention used in caring for older adults with chronic health conditions. The aim is for patient medication list(s) to be confident and current across care settings. Improper medication reconciliation can cause harmful drug interactions and ensure compliance with prescribed treatments for patients with several chronic illnesses(Mekonnen et al., 2016).

The theoretical intervention is a method called person-centered care (PCC), which focuses on treating a patient like an individual and considering their personal values, preferences, and goals in dealing with their chronic health conditions. By offering a structured way of delivering care, PCC respects patients’ individual life experiences and promotes patients’ autonomy(Redmond et al., 2019).

Medication reconciliation and PCC: both interventions focus on safety and improving the quality of life for older adults, though medication reconciliation deals with the specifics of clinical care and PCC with the more encompassing picture of the geriatric patient, including his or her emotional and social needs(Redmond et al., 2019).

Comparison of practical and theoretical interventions and their application

A practical intervention (medication reconciliation) is a systematic process designed primarily to provide for the medical management of older adults with chronic conditions. Healthcare providers review and adjust medications to reduce the chance of adverse reactions, to help ensure medication adherence, and to maximize medication effectiveness. It is more clinical, concentrating on risk from specific disease areas related to poly-pharmacy(Santana et al., 2017).

On the other hand, the theoretical intervention (PCC) looks more broadly. It moves from clinical concerns to some of the emotional, psychological, and social needs of the patient. PCC includes patients in the care delivery process, helping the care to be congruent with the values of the patient(Santana et al., 2017).

I have found medication reconciliation very important in avoiding medication errors in hospital settings, but particularly in PCC, patient engagement is enhanced in long-term care settings. Both interventions aim to improve outcomes but differ in their application: One safeguard is direct clinical, while the other promotes holistic patient-driven care.

Cultural Competence Interventions

Cultural competence can be integrated effectively into both interventions; however, the success of both rests in adapting care to the patient's cultural background. Cultural competence is shown in medication reconciliation whether cultural beliefs affect medication adherence and to what extent medication regimens consider patients' preferences, for example, using traditional drugs(Saha et al., 2018).

Cultural competence is foundational in PCC. Under PCC, regardless of how you aim to understand the individual’s values and preferences, you will inevitably need to have some knowledge of the patient's cultural context, family structure, and communication style in general. Failure to consider these factors may lead to less effective care. When used appropriately, cultural competence increases trust, adherence, and overall outcomes in both systems.