REGINA, Saskatchewan, Nov. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saskatchewan is set to become the second province in Canada to implement a mandatory standardized continuous quality improvement program in community pharmacies. COMPASS is being implemented to provide greater medication safety practices for community pharmacy teams, and thus, increased safety for Saskatchewan patients.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74a04bfb-cb72-4667-9917-86076543f62b.
A PDF accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/62e15ac2-3992-41ef-8821-82cf348b186c.
Justin Kosar, President of the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals (SCPP), the organization spearheading the program, says, “We know that pharmacy care in Saskatchewan is already safe. During our pilot program data revealed that over 99% of medication incidents were caught before reaching the patient and the small percentage that did, resulted in little to no harm being done. So this program is not being implemented to react to a problem. This is the SCPP advancing a program that will maintain the standard of reliability, quality and trust that Saskatchewan residents expect.”
Melissa Sheldrick is an Ontario mother who knows first hand the devastating consequences of a medication incident. Sheldrick and her husband lost their eight-year-old son Andrew to an error last year. “It’s a mistake that was preventable and I applaud SCPP for implementing COMPASS. This program will provide another level of quality control, catching incidents before getting to the patient.” Sheldrick now advocates across the country for greater medication safety measures for pharmacies.
Spiro Kolitsas is a pharmacist and pharmacy owner in Regina who participated in the COMPASS pilot program. Kolitsas states, “Our pharmacy team quickly realized the value and efficiencies COMPASS brought to our practice. We experienced fewer incidents through enhanced communication and documentation, increased awareness of existing policies/procedures, and greater pharmacy team participation in developing solutions."
Patients also play an important role in ensuring medication safety. As a part of continuous quality improvement, the COMPASS program is promoting the 5Qs patients need to ask their doctor, nurse or pharmacist about their medications. The 5Qs were developed by the Institute of Safe Medication Practices and Canadian Patient Safety Institute and are like an airline cross check before take-off. Patients should never be hesitant to ask:
#1 Changes – Have medications been added, stopped or changed and why?
#2 Continue – What medications do I need to keep taking, and why?
#3 Proper Use – How do I take my medications, and for how long?
#4 Monitor – How will I know if my medication is working, and what side effects do I watch for?
#5 Follow Up – Do I need any tests and when do I book my next visit?
More information about COMPASS can be found at http://www.saskpharm.ca or by calling SCPP at 306-584-2292.
COMPASS contact:
Jeannette Sandiford, COMPASS Program Lead
Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals
P: 306-848-8002
E: jeannette.sandiford@saskpharm.ca
