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The London Transfer Project aimed to reduce LTC medication incidents by 50% within 48 hours of discharge from general medicine units at the London Health Sciences Centre.

This quality improvement study involved 2 hospitals and 5 LTC homes in London, Ontario, Canada. The baseline prevalence of medication incidents was measured and explored for root causes. Two change ideas were tested on general medicine units to improve transfer communication: (1) expediting medication reconciliation and (2) faxing medication plans before discharge.

Evaluation involved time-series measurement and a comparison of baseline and intervention periods. The primary outcome was medication incidents by omission or commission within 48 hours of discharge, which was determined by dual chart reviews in hospital and LTC homes. Process measures included medication reconciliation and fax completion times. Hospital discharge times were included as a balance measure of the new communication process.

Four hundred seventy-seven LTC transfers were reviewed between 2016 and 2017; 92 transfers were reviewed for medication incidents in participating homes at baseline (January-April 2016) and implementation (January-April 2017). Medication incidents decreased significantly by 56%, from 44% (22/50) at baseline to 19% (8/42) during implementation (P = .006). Medication reconciliation completion by noon increased from 56% (28/50) to 74% (31/42) but not significantly (P = .076). Faxes sent before discharge increased significantly from 4% (2/50) to 67% (28/42, P = .015). There was no significant change in hospital discharge time.