BRIDGTON — Starting in mid-June, most patients discharged from Bridgton Hospital will be provided a blue folder. The folder is a portion of a major medication safety initiative launched at the hospital, funded through a Maine Health Access Foundation Grant.

The project is under the direction of Bobbi Cribby, BSN, MS, director of clinical practice, and includes Denyell Gerchman, RPh, pharmacist, Michael Lessard, RPh, pharmacist, and a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals.

Provided to discharged inpatients, the folder will contain a current, accurate medication list, and the goal is for patients to take the folder to all key points of medical services, i.e. physician office visits, pharmacy visits, inpatient and outpatient hospital visits.

The folder will contain pertinent medical information that can be used by the patient’s medical caregivers.

Cribby said, “Studies show that better verification, clarifying individual medication histories and improved documentation when in the hospital, also known as medication reconciliation, can dramatically reduce medication errors and the costs of readmissions. We have been working closely with providers of patient care in our surrounding communities, such as physician offices, local pharmacies, nursing homes and home health agencies. There will be a common goal of accurate current medication lists available, providing the safest care for our patients.”

For more information about the project, contact Cribby 647-6113 or Gerchman at 647-6142.

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