The Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada is a trusted partner in strengthening medication safety through learning, sharing, and acting to improve health care.

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World Patient Safety Day Webinar

Join ISMP Canada for a special episode of Med Safety Exchange in recognition of World Patient Safety Day! This year’s theme is Engaging Patients for Patient Safety. Patients and providers will share their collaborations for improving medication safety.

World Patient Safety Day Webinar

Partner with ISMP Canada

Our team of experts analyze reports of medication errors from across the country and provide resources, education, and consulting services to improve medication safety.

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Learn

We collect and analyze reports of medication errors and other issues so we can learn about the risks related to medications and collaboratively develop strategies to address them.

  • Practitioners, community pharmacies, consumers and caregivers can report your experiences with medication errors.
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Share

We share lessons learned, including compelling actionable, evidence-informed recommendations that organizations, practitioners, consumers, and caregivers can use to reduce the risks related to medications.

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Act

We partner to implement, sustain, and evaluate medication safety improvements in practice.

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Consumers and caregivers

Organizations and Practitioners

Safety Bulletins

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2023 - Volume 23

ISSUE 8

Acetaminophen-Related Harm: A Call for Improved Product Packaging

Although safe in recommended doses, acetaminophen is a leading cause of acute liver failure due to intentional and unintentional overdoses.

Sidebars:
- Lactulose for Encephalopathy
- “Mild” or “Severe” Harm? Ensuring the Accuracy of Reported Incidents
- Join the New Canadian Medication Safety Network!
- Med Safety Exchange


Bulletin PDF
ISSUE 7

When the Antidote Causes Harm: Preventing Errors with Intravenous Acetylcysteine

Approximately 4500 Canadians are hospitalized each year because of acetaminophen overdose. Acetylcysteine (also referred to as N-acetylcysteine or NAC) is effective as an antidote for acetaminophen poisoning and indicated to prevent or lessen hepatic injury which may occur following the ingestion of a potentially hepatotoxic quantity of acetaminophen. Although intravenous (IV) infusion has been widely accepted as a safe mode of administration for acetylcysteine, serious errors have occurred, leading to life-threatening conditions and/or death.
• TABLE 2: Contributing Factors with Corresponding Recommendations from a Multi-Incident Analysis


Bulletin PDF

ISMP Canada Impact

Our impact

Strengthening Medication Safety in Long-Term Care

The Ministry of Long-Term Care (MLTC) in Ontario is partnering with ISMP Canada for 3 years to support long-term care homes in strengthening medication safety.

National Incident Data Repository for Community Pharmacies (NIDR)

ISMP Canada’s National Incident Data Repository for Community Pharmacies (NIDR) is a collection of reported medication incidents submitted anonymously by community pharmacies for the purpose of improving medication safety in the community and elsewhere.

CMIRPS

The Canadian Medication Incident Reporting and Prevention System (CMIRPS) is a collaborative pan-Canadian program of Health Canada, ISMP Canada, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Patients for Patient Safety Canada and Healthcare Excellence Canada. The goal of CMIRPS is to reduce and prevent harmful medication incidents in Canada.