Medication Safety Self-Assessment: Focus on Never Events 

Medication-related errors are a major cause of preventable harm to patients in hospital and long-term care residents every day across Canada. Never events are patient safety incidents that result in serious harm or death, and that can be prevented by using organizational checks and balances. 

The Medication Safety Self-Assessment: Focus on Never Events tool 

ISMP Canada and the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (now HEC) collaborated with partners across the country to develop a tool for healthcare leaders to use to prevent medication-related never events. The Medication Safety Self-Assessment: Focus on Never Events tool provides a useful way to identify vulnerabilities in practice settings, along with strategies for safer care. Users of the tool can also compare results with those of their peers and monitor progress over time. 

The tool consists of three free-to-access programs, available in English and French: 

1. Medication Safety Self-Assessment: Focus on Never Events in Hospitals and Ambulatory Care Centers 
2. Medication Safety Self-Assessment: Focus on Never Events in Long-Term Care 
3. Medication Safety Self-Assessment: Focus on Never Events in Community Pharmacy 

If you have any questions about the Medication Safety Self-Assessment: Never Events tool, please email mssa@ismpcanada.org. 

For more information about never events in healthcare, read the Never Events for Hospital Care in Canada Report.