Reporting Platform Selection and Implementation

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Each pharmacy must have access to a reporting platform that facilitates the continuous quality improvement process, including:​

  • De-identified medication incidents and near misses to the appropriate national database

The reporting platform is used internally by the pharmacy team to document medication incidents and near misses. After a near miss is documented, de-identified reports are submitted to the national database (NIDR for community pharmacies, NSIR for hospital pharmacies). Analysis of the event may be conducted separately by the pharmacy after the submission. The information submitted to these databases does not contain any identifying information about the pharmacy, the pharmacy staff involved, or the patient.

While CPBC will receive aggregate, de-identified data analyses from these national databases to identify opportunities to improve patient safety across the province, CPBC will not have access to individual medication incident reports from the nation databases. This anonymity is crucial for creating an environment where reporting is encouraged and valuable learning can occur without fear of punitive action.

It's important to note that CPBC always had, and continues to have, access to pharmacy records during inspections or investigations under the existing authority in the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (PODSA) and the Health Professions Act (HPA).

Platform Access and Management

Access to the reporting platform must be managed appropriately:

  • Each pharmacy must have its own access to a reporting platform
  • The pharmacy manager must oversee access to the platform for their pharmacy
  • Each pharmacy team member using the platform should have a unique login
Platform Requirements

By the end of the transition period on June 1, 2026, the pharmacy must have a platform that:

  • De-identifies data: The platform must have processes in place to ensure there are no patient or pharmacy staff identifiers (individual names, PHNs, registrant ID numbers, etc.) in data submitted to the national database
  • Integrate with national databases: The platform must be able to share de-identified medication incident and near miss reports with the appropriate national database
  • Support mandatory data fields: At minimum, the platform must enable and require pharmacy staff to enter information for all required fields
Available Platforms

There are several commercially available platforms in the Canadian marketplace that can meet these requirements, including:

This list is not intended to be exhaustive, and CPBC does not approve or endorse individual platforms. Pharmacy teams may use another platform, including a proprietary system, provided that it meets the requirements specified in CPBC's bylaws.

Pharmacy managers should consult with platform providers regarding privacy compliance requirements for their jurisdiction, as appropriate platforms should have measures in place to protect personal and confidential information in accordance with applicable privacy legislation.