What is a critical factor to ensure when performing a medication assessment?

Verifying current medication usage and adherence is essential during a medication assessment because it directly impacts patient safety and treatment effectiveness. Understanding what medications a patient is currently taking—including any prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and herbal remedies—allows healthcare providers to identify potential interactions, side effects, or duplications in therapy. It also enables providers to assess if the patient is correctly following the prescribed regimen, which is crucial for achieving desired health outcomes. Non-adherence can lead to worsening conditions, increased healthcare costs, and unnecessary hospitalizations, making this aspect of the assessment critical for developing an effective and safe plan of care.

While understanding the patient's financial situation, lifestyle choices, and confirming previous treatments with family members can provide valuable context, they do not directly assess the current state of the patient's medication management and adherence, which are vital for ensuring optimal therapeutic effectiveness and safety.