Improving Medication Safety
“Medications are the most widely utilized interventions in health care, and medication-related harm constitutes the greatest proportion of the total preventable harm due to unsafe care, let alone the economic and psychological burden imposed by such harm.” (World Patient Safety Day 2022 (who.int)
Medication safety is defined as freedom from preventable harm with medication use. Because medication is used so widely, it’s critical to safe care. To shape a future where everyone has safe care, including medication safety, HEC works in partnership with the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada, Patients for Patient Safety Canada and others.
Safe-to-Say
As part of World Patient Safety Day 2022, Maryanne D’Arpino and Melissa Sheldrick (Member, Patients for Patient Safety Canada and Patient and Family Advisor, Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada), share their thoughts on why we need to make it ‘safe to say’ when something has, is—or could—go wrong.
Safe-to-Say
As part of World Patient Safety Day 2022, Maryanne D’Arpino and Melissa Sheldrick (Member, Patients for Patient Safety Canada and Patient and Family Advisor, Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada), share their thoughts on why we need to make it ‘safe to say’ when something has, is—or could—go wrong.
When used safely and appropriately, medications contribute to significant improvements in the health and well-being of patients. However, despite the best intentions of healthcare providers and the design of healthcare systems, medications can cause patient safety incidents. Those incidents can impact health outcomes, length of stay in a healthcare facility, readmission rates and overall costs the healthcare system in Canada.
Please contact us at safety-securite@hec-esc.ca for more information.
