ISMP Canada develops new website to help consumers report medication incidents

One in ten adult Canadians with health problems reported receiving the wrong medication or the wrong dose when filling a prescription or when hospitalized within the last two years

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada (ISMP Canada), has worked with Patients for Patient Safety Canada, Best Medicines Coalition and other consumer and patient groups to launch an initiative aimed at engaging patients in efforts to prevent harm from medication errors. A new website, www.SafeMedicationUse.ca, developed with support from Health Canada, provides a way for consumers to report medication incidents to ISMP Canada. The website also provides useful suggestions on steps consumers can take to reduce the chances of a medication mistake.

Mistakes with medicines (and problems that could cause mistakes with medicines) are called medication incidents. "Even though not all medication incidents cause harm, this is clearly an important health safety issue," says David U, President and CEO of ISMP Canada. "As a partner in a Canadian collaborative initiative known as the Canadian Medication Incident Reporting and Prevention System, ISMP Canada studies the causes of medication incidents and recommends ways to prevent them".

"We believe that providing consumers with an improved mechanism to report medication incidents will provide additional high quality information that can be used for the prevention of errors," says Katarina Busija, Co-Chair, Patients for Patient Safety Canada. "Providing consumers with better access to information on medication safety will also empower patients to play a more active role in their own health care decision-making."

Linda Wilhelm, Chair of Best Medicines Coalition Operating Committee, concurs. "All partners in health care have a role in ensuring that the system is as safe as possible. This web site provides an excellent way for patients to become engaged in informing others regarding errors that occur with the use of medications."

ISMP Canada is inviting Canadians to participate in a pilot of the new website and complete a short survey to provide feedback on the reporting tool and other features of the site.