Paediatric healthcare institutions face many unique challenges in the delivery of care - among these challenges is the lack of standardization of paediatric medication dosing and delivery practice. It is well known that medication errors and adverse events are among the most common patient safety problems in paediatrics and that certain high-risk medications pose particular risks. Non-standardized practices are a recognised challenge across the majority of child and youth health centres in Canada across the continuum of care.

Many adult health centres have successfully adopted standardized dosing and medication delivery processes to increase efficiency and improve patient safety. Many of these best practices are sanctioned and supported by ISMP Canada, Accreditation Canada, JCAHO and other organizations focused on improving patient safety. Fundamental differences in the delivery of medications in paediatrics, particularly weight-based dosing, have hindered the adoption of similar practices in paediatric care.

The objectives of this pilot project, High Risk Medication Delivery in Paediatrics – Implementing Leading Practice are;

• To determine the scope of the issues around high-risk medications delivery in general and within paediatric health care settings;
• To identify the risks, challenges, gaps and barriers experienced by health care providers; and
• To determine existing leading practices and strategies for sustainable change.