1. Involving Consumers to Improve
Medication Safety
A Pilot Project of the
Canadian Medication Incident Reporting and Prevention System
Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada
October, 2013
© Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada 2013®

2. CONSUMERS
• Are a valuable source of information about medication incidents
• Can play a role in ensuring the safety of their healthcare
launched in March 2010: a consumer-friendly
mechanism for reporting medication incidents
User-friendly
incident reporting
program
Sign up to receive
newsletters and alerts
Materials to educate
consumers on their role in
medication safety
Links to Health
Canada Advisories
© Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada 2013®

3. Example of SafeMedicationUse.ca Publication
Newsletters and alerts
based on actual incidents
reported by consumers
Dialogue with
manufacturers occurs as
needed
Recommendations to
help consumers prevent
similar incidents
Learning for healthcare
professionals shared through
ISMP Canada Safety Bulletins
and e-Blasts

4. Results as of Sept. 2013
•156 reports received
•33 reports involved mistakes or
near misses that occurred when
consumers were taking or selecting
medicines
•28 newsletters and 14 alerts
•56,419 visits; 137,431 page views
Lessons Learned
•Consumers are willing to report
medication incidents
•Reports from consumers provide
insight into types of mistakes made
at home and help in understanding
healthcare system issues
•Listed as a resource by
Accreditation Canada
•Consumers want access to
materials that can support their role
in enhancing the safety of their
healthcare
•Contributing organization to Global
Patient Safety Alerts
•Continued work needed to increase
consumer awareness of the program
•759 subscribers
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© Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada 2013®