Categories and Subcategories	Definitions
Risk to Patient
Allergy	Patient had known allergy to drug or drug class, actual ADE/ADR. Patient has had a prior undesirable experience with the medication, therefore either discontinued medication or wants to discontinue due to prior experience.
Potential ADE/ADR	Patient is at increased risk for an ADE/ADR (including drug interaction or absolute or relative contraindication to a drug).
Medication Error	Errors that occur in the process of ordering or delivering a medication, regardless of whether an injury occurred or the potential for injury was present (Not a therapeutic decision).
Therapeutic Monitoring	Includes drug and disease state monitoring (laboratory, vital signs, symptoms) for toxicity purposes.
Medication/Indication Issue
No/Unclear Indication	No clear indication for medication patient is taking or has been prescribed.
Untreated Condition	Medication should be started.
Undertreated Condition	New medication should be added or dose increased.
Alternative Therapy	Not on the best or most appropriate therapy (therapeutic decision) for indication; requires a change to a potentially more effective therapy.
Efficacy Issue
No Evidence of Effectiveness	Based on clinical assessment or patient has self-discontinued a medication based on belief of ineffectiveness.
Monitor for Effectiveness	Includes drug and disease state monitoring (laboratory, vitals, symptoms).
Adherence or Administration	Patient not taking medication or not taking as prescribed, need for adherence aids and/or education about appropriate use of medication.
Pharmaceutical Issue
Inappropriate/Suboptimal Dose	Dose is too high or too low. Inappropriately high dose unlikely to lead to ADR/ADE.
Inappropriate/Suboptimal Schedule	Schedule problem without changing total daily dose.
Inappropriate/Suboptimal Route	Includes inappropriate/suboptimal administration instructions and convenience issues for drug administration.
Therapeutic Duplication	Inappropriate duplication of medications.
Cost Issue
Formulary Adherence	Replacement of nonformulary medication with formulary alternative
Less expensive alternative	Switch to a generic medication or other lower cost alternative
Record Update
Admission medication different from community records	Update medication profile
Label instructions do not match how patient actually instructed to take medication.	Update medication profile
Prescription not on profile	Add medication to the profile

ADR – adverse drug reaction, ADE- adverse drug event