Implementing a change in pharmacy practice is an important milestone, but it is not the end of the safety journey. In fact, it is often just the beginning. Under the Alberta College of Pharmacy’s Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI+) framework, pharmacies are expected not only to introduce improvements, but also to monitor, evaluate, and refine those […]
Medication incidents rarely happen because of a single mistake. In most community pharmacies, incidents occur when system pressures, knowledge gaps, and medication design risks collide. Across incident reporting data and CQI reviews, three contributing factors appear again and again: Understanding these factors, and addressing them within the reality of a busy pharmacy, is key to […]
Finding the Right Balance: Applying the Hierarchy of Effectiveness in Independent Pharmacies Improving patient safety in a community pharmacy is not about choosing the most effective intervention on paper. It is about choosing what is realistic, affordable, and sustainable in day-to-day practice. The Hierarchy of Effectiveness, widely used in patient safety and quality improvement, helps […]
Why Empowering the Whole Team Strengthens Patient Safety One of the most common questions we hear from community pharmacies implementing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI+) is this: “Can non-regulated staff, such as pharmacy assistants, report incidents?” The short answer, under the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) CQI+ program, is yes. In fact, enabling the entire pharmacy […]
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 […]
Introduction: Why Documentation and Anonymity Matter in Pharmacy Practice Incident and close call reporting is a cornerstone of patient safety and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI+). Yet in many community pharmacies, documentation remains inconsistent or avoided altogether. The reasons are well known to pharmacists and pharmacy managers. When documentation feels risky or burdensome, valuable learning opportunities […]
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI+) is not just a regulatory obligation in Alberta, it is a professional commitment to patient safety, learning, and safer pharmacy practice. The Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) has clearly outlined expectations for CQI+, including close call reporting, incident documentation, regular CQI meetings, safety self-assessments, and data sharing with the National Incident […]
In today’s community pharmacy environment, dispensing safely means looking beyond the prescription. Laboratory values and provincial health records often contain critical clinical information that can change a dispensing decision entirely. Yet, in busy practice settings, reviewing labs or Netcare is sometimes delayed, skipped, or treated as optional. At PharmaSafe, we consistently see that many preventable […]
Why Documenting Allergies Is One of the Most Powerful Safety Practices in Community Pharmacy In a busy community pharmacy, it is easy to assume that allergy documentation is already handled. A checkbox ticked during intake, a note added years ago, or a verbal confirmation at the counter can feel sufficient. Yet, allergy related medication incidents […]
The start of a new year is a natural moment for reflection and renewal. For community pharmacies, it is also the perfect time to strengthen systems, refresh habits, and recommit to what matters most, patient safety and high quality care. At PharmaSafe, we work closely with pharmacy teams across Alberta and beyond. One theme comes […]
