Introduction to High Risk Medicines
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This course is free for qualified workplaces
What you will learn
This course is the first in a series about high risk medicines. The remaining modules will focus on particular groups of high risk medicines.
‘High risk medicines’ are medicines that have a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error.
Although mistakes may or may not be more common with these medicines, the consequences of an error can be more devastating to both the patient and the healthcare team.
Relevance
This course is intended for all health care staff involved in the management of medicines, particularly in the hospital setting.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this course you will be able to:
- identify what makes a medicine ‘high risk’
- identify high risk medicines
- explain how medication errors occur
- explain strategies to improve management of high risk medicines
- describe resources/tools available to help in the safe management of high risk medicines.
About this course
Target Audience
This course is intended for all healthcare staff involved in the management of high risk medicines.
Duration
The course is designed to take around half an hour to complete.
Certificate
On successful completion of the assessments you can download a certificate of completion.
Compliance
This course aligns with the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, Second Edition – Standards 1, 2, 4 & 6.
Disclaimer
This course content was developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and is protected by copyright under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike (BY-NC-ND) 4.0 International License.
The content is provided in good faith by the Commission for information purposes. It is not a substitute for, and is not intended to replace, any specific policies, guidelines or requirements for your local health network or health service.
The Commission does not accept any legal liability or responsibility for any injury, loss or damage incurred by the use of, or reliance on, this information.
Resources
High risk medicines resources
Australia
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website, including High Risk Medicines information: www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/medication-safety/high-risk-medicines
- Clinical Excellence Commission, High Risk Medicines: www.cec.health.nsw.gov.au/programs/high-risk-medicines
- South Australia Health, High risk medicines: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/
clinical+resources/clinical+topics/medicines+and+drugs/high+risk+medicines - Western Australia, Department of Health. High risk medicines: https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I/High-risk-medications
- Victoria Department of Health, High risk medicines: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/quality-safety-service/quality-use-of-medicines/high-risk-medicines
International
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices: www.ismp.org
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada: www.ismp-canada.org
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement: www.ihi.org (login required)
- Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority: www.patientsafetyauthority.org
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Collection: www.psnet.ahrq.gov
Medication safety training resources
- NPS MedicineWise and the Commission, through the NPS MedicineWise Online Learning Site, provide a range of health professional education and training resources on medication safety and quality. The resources are designed to improve the use of medicines and to improve patient safety and the quality of care.
Acknowledgements
Content team
Medicines and Technology Policy and Programs Branch (MTPP), SA Health:
- Naomi Burgess, Director
- Anita Abarno, Senior Pharmacist, Medication Safety
- Kaye Barratt, Senior Specialist Pharmacist
SA Health would also like to acknowledge and thank the following:
- Carolyn Field, Women’s and Children’s Health Network
- Kirsty Scarborough, Central Adelaide Local Health Network
- Kerrie Westaway, Medical Writer, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia (previously Senior Project Officer, Medication Safety, MTPP, SA Health)
- Women’s and Children’s Hospital Pharmacy Department
