Medication safety came under significant strain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental distractions increased dramatically—phones ringing with vaccination questions, higher walk-in volume, staffing pressures, and constant multitasking. Together, these factors contributed to a rise in medication errors and highlighted vulnerabilities in everyday pharmacy workflows.
Environmental distractions remain a key risk factor. Interruptions during dispensing, verification, and counselling make it harder to maintain focus, especially in high-volume settings.
The good news is that practical tools exist to help pharmacies manage these risks and reinforce patient safety.
1. Daily pharmacy safety huddles
Brief daily huddles help teams anticipate risks before they escalate. Topics may include staffing levels, workload, drug shortages, equipment or system issues, weather-related impacts, or changes in clinic operations. These quick check-ins reinforce shared awareness and keep safety front of mind.
2. Pharmacy Safety Self Assessment (PSSA)
The PSSA supports self-reflection across six domains, including patient information, communication, preparation, education, and continuous quality improvement. It helps teams identify gaps and strengthen safety practices without assigning blame.
Environmental distractions aren’t going away, but structured tools like safety huddles and self-assessments can help pharmacies manage risk and protect patient safety.
For more practical guidance, pharmacists can watch the Pharmapod Safety Series: Creating Your Own Safety Net webinar for free.
This program has been developed by Pharmapod.