Practical Alberta Examples to Help Your CQI+ Reporting Stay Focused
In Alberta community pharmacies, close calls (also called near misses or good catches) play an important role in improving patient safety under the ACP Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI+) program. However, one of the most common sources of confusion for pharmacy teams is knowing what does not qualify as a close call.
Understanding this distinction helps pharmacies focus on meaningful safety learning rather than documenting routine corrections that are already part of safe practice.
This article breaks down what is not a close call, using real-world community pharmacy examples, so your team can report confidently, consistently, and efficiently.
Why “Not a Close Call” Matters for CQI+
CQI+ is not about capturing every small error. It is about identifying system vulnerabilities that could lead to patient harm if left unaddressed.
Over-reporting routine catches can:
- Create unnecessary administrative burden
- Dilute meaningful trend analysis
- Reduce staff engagement with CQI activities
A strong CQI+ program focuses on learning opportunities, not perfection.
Routine Safety Checks Are Not Close Calls
Example: Barcode Scanning Catches the Wrong DIN
A technician selects the wrong strength of a medication, but the barcode scanner alerts them before labeling.
Why this is not a close call:
Barcode scanning is a built-in safety control functioning exactly as designed. Unless the same issue happens repeatedly or reveals workflow pressure (e.g., frequent overrides), this is not a close call.
Example: Final Check Identifies a Simple Typo
During pharmacist verification, a quantity typo is noticed and corrected before dispensing.
Why this is not a close call:
Final verification is a routine safety step. A one-off data entry error corrected during this process does not represent a system failure or learning opportunity.
Normal Clinical Judgment Is Not a Close Call
Example: Pharmacist Clarifies a Dose with the Prescriber
A prescription appears ambiguous, so the pharmacist contacts the prescriber for clarification before processing.
Why this is not a close call:
This is expected professional judgment and safe practice, not an event that nearly caused harm.
Example: Allergy Checked and Therapy Adjusted
A pharmacist notices a documented allergy and changes the medication before dispensing.
Why this is not a close call:
Reviewing allergies is a standard clinical responsibility. The safety system worked as intended.
Routine Workflow Corrections Are Not Close Calls
Example: Label Reprinted After Noticing Formatting Issue
A staff member notices a truncated instruction and reprints the label.
Why this is not a close call:
This correction occurs within normal workflow and does not indicate a risk that nearly reached the patient.
Example: Stock Bottle Returned to Correct Shelf
A medication is briefly placed in the wrong location but noticed and corrected immediately.
Why this is not a close call:
Unless this happens frequently or involves look-alike medications, it is not a reportable close call.
When a “Routine Catch” May Become a Close Call
A routine catch can become a close call if:
- It happens repeatedly
- It reveals workflow pressure or staffing gaps
- It depends on individual vigilance rather than system safeguards
For example:
- Frequent barcode alerts for the same look-alike drug
- Repeated corrections during peak hours
- Regular misinterpretation of the same prescriber directions
In these cases, the learning lies in why the system allows the issue to keep occurring.
How PhIX Helps Pharmacies Focus on the Right Events
PharmaSafe’s PhIX (Pharmacy Incident Exchange) is designed to support Alberta pharmacies in accurate CQI+ reporting without unnecessary workload.
Key PhIX Capabilities
- Guided close call classification to avoid misreporting routine catches
- Plain-language prompts aligned with ACP CQI+ expectations
- Root cause and contributing factor tools to identify true system gaps
- Trend dashboards to highlight recurring safety risks
- CQI meeting integration to turn real close calls into action plans
- Role-based access so the entire pharmacy team can participate
- Fast reporting workflows, often completed in under a minute
By filtering noise and focusing on meaningful events, PhIX helps pharmacies build a stronger safety culture, not just bigger logs.
Key Takeaway for Alberta Pharmacy Teams
Not every intercepted error is a close call.
Not every correction needs to be documented.
A close call is valuable only when it teaches us something about how our system can be safer.
By understanding what does not qualify as a close call and using tools like PhIX, pharmacies can:
- Meet ACP CQI+ expectations
- Reduce reporting fatigue
- Focus on real patient safety improvements
That is the heart of Continuous Quality Improvement.
