Safe Medication

Ensuring the right patient gets the right medication at the right time

Drip. Drip. Drip.  Simon is lying in a hospital bed after a successful abdominal surgery. Listening to the steady drip of the intravenous (IV) pump, he wonders whether he’s getting the right medication. What’s worse, he wonders, “what if the dose is wrong? What happens...

Canada’s Pharmacare Act needs to be changed

Canada’s Pharmacare Act, Bill C-64 is merely a fill-the-gaps approach rather than a universal public program and should be amended, argue authors of a commentary published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Bill C-64, which will cover contraceptives and diabetes medications, is currently awaiting final...

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Antioxidants and chemotherapy: Considerations for efficacy and safety

J.S., a 55-year-old female, presented to her oncology clinic for her third cycle of...

Compounding practices: Implications for patient and medication safety

According to Health Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/compliance-enforcement/good-manufacturing-practices/guidance-documents/policy-manufacturing-compounding-drug-products.html), compounding corresponds to the mixing or combination of two...

Timely diagnosis and right medication lead to improved quality of life for heart failure patients

Marilyn Jackson recalls waking up, breathless, with a terrible cramp in her leg. “I’m...

Behind the scenes: Pharmacy Quality Control Lab

Every hospital pharmacy faces issues regarding drug stability (how long a drug can be...

Artificial intelligence and patient care: Considerations of medication safety

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has generated significant excitement globally. One notable AI system is ChatGPT...

Project sees overuse of preventative blood thinners cut by half

A year-old pilot project at St. Paul’s Hospital to track unnecessary use of preventative...

Polypharmacy: Impact on patient and medication safety

Anna (68-year-old female) was hospitalized after a fall, bringing along 14 medications she routinely...

Oral dosage form modifications: Important considerations to safeguard patient safety

Lily, an 18-year-old patient, has recently been prescribed Venlafaxine Extended-Release Capsules to address her...

Predictors of opioid overdose after prescription for chronic pain

A large study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) identified 10 predictors of...

Opioid stewardship: Its role in patient/medication safety and pain management

Common examples of opioids include morphine, hydromorphone, and fentanyl, etc. When taken as instructed...

Prescribing psychostimulants for people at risk of overdose

Growing evidence supports prescribing psychostimulant medications to help reduce use of illegal stimulants such...

Dispelling myths: Safe medication use in pregnancy and breastfeeding

By Julia Giannini and Certina Ho Rachel is a 29-year-old lawyer who is actively trying...

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Ensuring the right patient gets the right medication at the right time

Drip. Drip. Drip.  Simon is lying in a hospital bed after a successful abdominal surgery....