Clinical pharmacists play a key role in preventing adverse drug events and ensuring medication reconciliation in hospitals, reports the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). In a review of practices that improve patient safety, the agency listed 10 that are “strongly encouraged” and 12 that are “encouraged” for adoption. Under the latter category, hospitals are advised to conduct medication reconciliations at admission, generate electronic discharge prescriptions, counsel patients upon discharge, communicate medication changes directly to a patient’s pharmacy, and follow-up via telephone. The report notes that when performed by a clinical pharmacist, these practices decreased hospital use in the year following discharge. More recommendations are available in an AHRQ press release.