What is a common goal of medication reconciliation?

A common goal of medication reconciliation is to ensure safe and effective medication use. This process involves comparing a patient's current medication orders to all of the medications that the patient has been taking, whether prescribed by a healthcare provider or purchased over the counter. The objective is to identify discrepancies, such as omissions or duplications, which could potentially lead to medication errors or adverse drug interactions. By ensuring that the medications are accurate and appropriate for a patient’s current health status, healthcare providers can significantly enhance patient safety and optimize therapeutic outcomes.

While the other options may touch upon aspects of medication management, they do not directly align with the primary purpose of medication reconciliation. For instance, reducing inventory costs and promoting generic drug sales may be operational considerations for pharmacies but do not focus on the patient's safety in medication administration. Similarly, avoiding patient consultations does not contribute to effective medication management or reconciliation, as engaging with patients is essential for accurate medication history assessment and ensuring they understand their treatment.