It’s Safe to Ask

On January 9th, 2007, the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety (MIPS) officially launched Phase 1 of It’s Safe to Ask (ISTA), a health literacy and patient safety campaign, across the Manitoba.

It’s Safe to Ask encourages all Manitobans, along with their doctors, nurses and pharmacists, to discuss three simple questions:
1. What is my health problem?
2. What do I need to do?
3. Why do I need to do this?

Phase 1 included the distribution of brochures and posters as part of a public awareness campaign around asking questions and becoming an active informed member of your health care team.

Phase 2 of It’s Safe to Ask includes the promotion of a medication card and accompanying tools such as a DVD on medication safety, an information sheet on Safe use of medications and an Implementation Tips Checklist for ISTA Champions. The purpose of the medication card is to promote medication safety by encouraging the public to know about their medications and why they take them, and to carry an updated card with them and show it at all medical appointments to help reduce the risk of medication errors.

Learn more at www.safetoask.ca or contact (204) 927-6477.