ISMP Canada News

December 2006: Medication Safety Self-Assessment^® (MSSA)

The following medication safety self-assessment programs are available from ISMP Canada:

1. Medication Safety Self-Assessment® (MSSA) for Hospitals, Canadian Version II
2. Medication Safety Self-Assessment® for Community/Ambulatory Pharmacy, Canadian Version

Completion of the MSSA will assist health service organizations in:

• Identifying priorities for improving medication use systems
  
• Measuring progress over time
  
• Meeting standards (e.g., CCHSA)
  
• Contributing to regional, provincial and national aggregate data

The MSSAs were originally created by ISMP in the United States. The Canadian MSSAs were developed with the assistance of expert panels of health care professionals in Canada. Most of the characteristics for a safe medication use system identified within the MSSAs represent the learning from analysis of medication incidents. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada (ISMP Canada) gratefully acknowledges the assistance provided by all individuals working in the Canadian health care community who share learning from medication incidents in order to inform development of safe medication practices. ISMP Canada also wishes to thank the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, Greenshield and Health Canada for support for the MSSA programs.

Additional information about the MSSA programs is available by email: mssa@ismp-canada.org.

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