Archive for July, 2008

Event Review : It’s Safe to Ask Medication Card (June 2, 2008)

Published by admin on July 10, 2008 in Event Review. 1 Comment

It’s Safe to Ask Medication Card, launched June 2, 2008.

The Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety joined with a wide range of professional groups, regulatory bodies and healthcare organizations to launch the It’s Safe to Ask Medication Card on June 2, 2008.

Medication errors are a leading cause of patient harm.  It is well known that adverse drug events occur with disturbing frequency, and that communication problems between settings of care are a significant factor in their occurrence.  Chart reviews have revealed that over half of all hospital medication errors occur at the interfaces of care.  Adverse drug events can be reduced by “reconciling” medications at transition points in care, such as at admission to an acute care or long term care facility and during home care.  The key to this process is having an up-to-date list of medications.  The It’s Safe to Ask Medication Card is used to generate this list. 

The  It’s Safe to Ask Medication Card was launched June 2, 2008. It is Phase Two of the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety’s It’s Safe to Ask Campaign, launched in January 2007.  The It’s Safe To Ask Medication Card was developed to support medication reconciliation being conducted in acute, long-term care and community settings in Manitoba as part of the Safer Healthcare Now!  Campaign.  The lead sponsor is Manitoba Health, and contributing sponsors are the Canadian Patient Safety Institute and Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

The It’s Safe to Ask Medication Card is being created in a format that Manitobans can carry with them to appointments and into healthcare settings.  The Card will replace the medication information sheet in the Emergency Response Information Kit (E.R.I.K.). The kit is widely distributed across Manitoba and recognized by the public and providers.  Partner regulatory bodies are helping raise awareness for the card and are distributing it across the province to members.  This includes the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association, the Manitoba College of Family Physicians, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba, and the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba.

Projects goals are to:

  • Raise awareness of the importance of medication safety and its affect on patients, families and the health care system,
  • Raise provider and public awareness of the benefits of clear communication to improving patient safety,
  • Improve communication between health care providers and patients/families about their medications, and
  • Improve patient safety and reduce harm to patients from medication errors

Partners with the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety on these initiatives are: the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association, the Manitoba Society of Pharmacists, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, and Boni-Vital Council for Seniors (E.R.I.K.).

The medication card in various formats, patient and provider videos, and related tools and information can be accessed at www.safetoask.ca.

Event Review : Patient Safety is in YOUR Hand! (May 22, 2008)

Published by admin on July 10, 2008 in Event Review. 0 Comments

Patient Safety is in YOUR Hand launched May 22, 2008

The Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety joined with a wide range of professional groups, regulatory bodies and healthcare organizations to launch Patient Safety is in Your Hand, an initiative aimed at raising greater awareness among providers of the dangers of using certain abbreviations and symbols that are known to increase the possibility of adverse events.

Medication errors are a leading cause of patient harm. It is well known that adverse drug events occur with disturbing frequency, and that communication problems between settings of care are a significant factor in their occurrence. In the Canadian Adverse Events Study (2004), drug and fluid related events were the second most common type of procedure or event to which adverse events were related. Improving medication safety through avoiding the use of abbreviations, dose designations and symbols in the medication use system will reduce preventable patient harm.

Patient Safety is in YOUR Hand was publicly announced in May 22, 2008. It builds on the Regional Policy on Medication Order Writing Standards, introduced by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. In addition to posters, included will be a list of error prone abbreviations, acronyms, dose designations and symbols that are being discouraged. The posters and the “Do Not Use List” form part of a tool kit for organizations to use to introduce and promote Patient Safety is in YOUR Hand. The tool kit, which includes references, implementation tips and downloadable tools can be accessed at http://mbips.ca/wp/initiatives/patient-safety-is-in-your-hand/ . Project funding sponsors are Regional Health Authorities of Manitoba and Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada.

An interprofessional launch and education evening entitled “Improving Patient Safety Through Better Communication About Medications” was hosted by the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association on May 22, 2008.

To view the video click this link http://mbips.ca/wp/initiatives/patient-safety-is-in-your-hand/#videotape

Partners with the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety on this initiative are: the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba, the Institute for Safer Medication Practices Canada, and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.