News

New Canadian Medication Management Standard:
Developed with Input from ISMP Canada

Evidence-informed standards support health care organizations and providers to address opportunities for improvement in safety and quality throughout the medication life cycle, from procurement to disposal. In Canada, an example of standards for accreditation of health organizations is the Health Standards Organization (HSO) Medication Management standard (CAN/HSO 3001), developed with the involvement of patients, caregivers, and experts, including representation from ISMP Canada.

This updated standard builds upon previous standards and current literature, with consideration of the evolving therapeutic landscape and ever-advancing technologies. With applicability to all ages and care sectors, it promotes collaborative and people-centred approaches within a positive safety culture.

The following topics are new in this updated standard: opioid stewardship; deprescribing; compounding of medications; digital technology and artificial intelligence; interoperability of health information systems; bar coding systems; medication assistance by unregulated providers; management of the supply chain and imported medications; complementary, alternative, and traditional medicines; antimicrobial stewardship; and medical cannabis.

The standard is now available for purchase at https://store.healthstandards.org/. Alternatively, Accreditation Canada clients can contact their representative to learn more.