Basics of Medication Safety. Welcome and Introductions 2.

Basics of Medication Safety

Welcome and Introductions

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Presentation Goals

To raise your awareness of:how you can help improve patient safetysafe medication use practices the value of working with your

pharmacist

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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

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Get warmed up!!

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Overview of Medication Safety

Why is Medication Safety Important?

Medication incidents can happen

Everyone has a role to play in preventing harm from medication incidents

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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

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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

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Engage in Patient Safety!

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!

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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

14www.safetoask.ca

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Keep a Medication List

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Keep a Current Medication List

List:what you are actually takinghow you are taking itwhy you are taking it

As a patient, YOU are the best source of information on the medications you

are taking!

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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

you learn about your medicationsyou take your medications correctlyyour doctors, nurses and pharmacists

know about your medicationsin an emergency

Get a list of current medications when you move from one setting of care to another

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A current medication list helps:

Videos:Intro to Know and Show Your Medication Card

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How to fill in and use the Medication Card

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Know Your Medications

Know Your Medications

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Check name and purpose of medications when you:

• get a prescription • fill a prescription• are given medications

Your community pharmacist can help you!

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How to Read a Prescription

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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.)

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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? 25

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?26

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?

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How to Read a Prescription Label

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Auxiliary Labels

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Auxiliary Labels

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Auxiliary Labels

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 provider32

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 QUESTIONS33

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DOUBLE CHECK!!

Get information on how to take the medication…

THENTell your pharmacist your

understanding of how to take the medication

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

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Know your non-prescription medications

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Storing and Disposing of Medications

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

container37

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

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Report and Learn from Medication

Incidents

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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:o Medication incidents to

• your healthcare provider, and• ISMP Canada online at

www.SafeMedicationUse.ca or toll-free at 1-866-544-7672

oReport critical incidents to your Regional Health Authority

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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

Summary and

Evaluation

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Children and Teens

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High Alert Medications

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Seniors

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Travelling with Medications