July 2001
- The Intervention project funded by Ontario Ministry of Health had its kick off information sessions at both Toronto and Kingston. There were over 30 hospitals attending and all have received the information package as well as the study proposal. All interested hospitals are expected to receive the Letter of Agreement by mid-July. The signed agreement should be returned to ISMP Canada by the second week of September.
- ISMP Canada recently received approval and funding from Green Shield Canada to launch a pilot study to evaluate the Medication Safety Self-Assessment for community pharmacy practices. Collaborative input will be provided from CPhA. The project will begin sometime in the Fall of 2001. Further update on the this project will be posted in ISMP Canada's webpage.
- The Canadian Medical Association's Risk Management Institute is piloting a correspondence course on Medication Errors for physicians. The course Reference Group was established. Its members consists of Dr. Stuart MacLeod, Dr. Ed Etchells, Dr. William Beilby, and David U. Both Dr. Etchells and David U represent ISMP Canada. The first meeting is scheduled in mid-July, 2001.
- ISMP Canada is launching the Analyze-ERR software program very shortly. It is a brainchild of more than one year's joint effort between ISMP Canada and ISMP (US). It is an unique program that prompts hospitals to perform root cause analysis of medication errors and near-misses. Guided by the principle of non-punitive reporting culture and promoting quality improvement initiative, root cause data is not traceable to a specific medication error event. Results of aggregate root cause will identify system weakness for hospitals to focus improvement efforts.
Hospitals will soon be able to preview the Analyze-ERR program on this web site. The program will be used by hospitals on an annual subscription basis. More information on the release date of Analyze-ERR version 1.0 will be posted.
- A number of reports ISMP Canada received are on problems with infusion pumps used in hospitals. A joint initiative is being developed between University of Toronto's Cognitive engineering Laboratory and ISMP Canada on the use of infusion pumps and their problems in Canada. One of the components is the fact finding via a survey to be completed by Canadian hospitals. Hospitals' support and cooperation is greatly appreciated to make this study a success.
- The Canadian Coordinating Office of Health Technology Assessment (CCOHTA), based in Ottawa, will be embarking on a very important initiative to assess how technology can reduce medical and medication errors. ISMP Canada has recently formed a collaborative partnership with CCOHTA, and will be working with CCOHTA on this exciting project.
- ISMP Canada teamed with ISMP (Mike Cohen and Judy Smetzer) conducted our first hospital consult in a hospital in Ontario in April. The consult took a three days onsite visit. An interim but a very informative report was presented during the last day. The final comprehensive report would be completed and delivered in about 8 weeks. It was a great success.
- The April 20 conference on "Breaking the Silence" is a great success. It was the first major conference jointed sponsored by ISMP Canada and The CQI Network. The feedback from the attendees was excellent.
