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Basics of Medication Safety. Welcome and Introductions. Presentation Goals. To raise your awareness of: how you can help improve patient safety safe medication use practices the value of working with your pharmacist. Topics. Overview of medication safety Engage in patient safety!
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Presentation Goals To raise your awareness of: • how you can help improve patient safety • safe medication use practices • the value of working with your pharmacist
Topics • Overview of medication safety • Engage in patient safety! • Keep a current medication list • Know your medications • Store and dispose of medications safely • Report and learn from medication incidents
Why is Medication Safety Important? • Medication incidents can happen • Everyone has a role to play in preventing harm from medication incidents
Examples of medication incidents • Your medication container from the pharmacy contains the wrong medication • You take the same medication twice in the same day by accident
You are given too much of a medication while in hospital • You receive a medication that you know you are allergic to
Where can medication incidents occur? • At your doctor’s office when a medication is prescribed • At your pharmacy • When a prescription is filled • When you select an over the counter medication • In your home, when you take or use the medication
Where can medication incidents occur? • In the hospital, when medications are ordered or prepared by the pharmacy • At your bedside, when medications are given/taken
You can help improve medication safety • Patients are the best source of information on the medications they are taking • Be involved in medication safety - there are lots of ways to do this! • Ask questions!
Be involved in patient safety! • It’s Safe to Ask! • S.A.F.E. Toolkit • S.A.F.E. Patients Blog • Patient Advocate Form • Patient Values and Partnerships www.safetoask.ca
Keep a Current Medication List List: • what you are actually taking • how you are taking it • why you are taking it As a patient, YOU are the best source of information on the medications you are taking!
Keep a Current Medication List List: • regularly used and “as needed” • prescription medications • pills, ointments, creams, liquids • non-prescription medications • vitamins, herbal, natural products • dosages and strength (eg: 1 x 500 mg tablet) • how and when you take the medication
A current medication list helps: • you learn about your medications • you take your medications correctly • your doctors, nurses and pharmacists know about your medications • in an emergency Get a list of current medications when you move from one setting of care to another
Videos: Intro to Know and Show Your Medication Card How to fill in and use the Medication Card
Know Your Medications • Check name and purpose of medications when you: • get a prescription • fill a prescription • are given medications • Your community pharmacist can help you!
At appointments, ask your doctor or nurse: 1. What is my health problem? 2. What do I need to do? 3. Why do I need to do this?
In the hospital – 5 “Rights” Right: • patient name • medication name (generic and/or brand) • dose (amount) • time of day to be taken • route (by mouth, onto skin, etc.)
At hospital discharge, ask: What medications have changed since I came into hospital? • Ask: • What medications are: • continued as before? • stopped? • changed? • new? • Did my dose change?
At hospital discharge andat the pharmacy, ask: • what is the medication name? (spell it) • why do I need it? • I have allergies – will I have a reaction to this medication? • when and how should I take it? • how should I measure a liquid? • will it interact with other medications I am taking?
At hospital discharge andat the pharmacy, ask: • what will it do? • what are the side effects? • how long should I take it? • what do I do if I miss a dose? • does my refill look the same as before? • are there “extra labels” on the container? • how do I store it?
Know Your Medications – More TIPS • Use the same pharmacy • Ask your pharmacist how to take medications until you understand • Ask before you cut, split, crush or open a pill or capsule • Take with water, not juice; unless told other wise by your healthcare provider
Know Your Medications – More TIPS • If dose is more than 3 pills at once, check • Do not share your medications • Give your contact information and an emergency contact • Check when medications “expire” (best before date). ASK QUESTIONS
DOUBLE CHECK!! Get information on how to take the medication… THEN Tell your pharmacist your understanding of how to take the medication
Know your non-prescription medications • Vitamins, herbs, natural health products, “over the counter” medications • Tell your doctor and pharmacist what non-prescription medications you are taking. • A bad interaction with prescription medication or a medical condition may cause harm
Store Medications Safely • Store medications: • securely (e.g. locked cabinet) • in an area free of excess heat, cold and moisture (some exceptions) • Leave medications in original labelled containers • Do not mix medications in same container
Dispose of Medications Safely • Return unused or out of date medications to your pharmacy • If using needles to inject medication, get a biohazard container from your pharmacy
Report and Learn from Medication Incidents • Inform healthcare providers if you feel a medication incident has occurred • Reporting incidents helps get to the root of the problem
Reporting Medication Incidents • Report: • Medication incidents to • your healthcare provider, and • ISMP Canada online at www.SafeMedicationUse.ca or toll-free at 1-866-544-7672 • Report critical incidents to your Regional Health Authority
Reporting Adverse Drug Reactions • Adverse drug reactions are not related to the healthcare provided • Report adverse drug reactions to the Canada Vigilance Program • Either by mail, fax, telephone or online • For details see: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/report-declaration/index-eng.php#a1
