Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada

Name

Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada

Legal name

Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada

Website

https://ismpcanada.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medication Safety Services

akta.pro primary industry

Pharmacovigilance, Medication Safety & Controlled Substance Diversion Monitoring (HLAFALAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pharmacovigilance & Drug Safety Software (HLAGAJAK), Medication Safety, Pharmacovigilance & Adverse Event Reporting IT (HLACAKAK)

Keywords

• Medication safety
• Incident reporting
• Patient safety
• Pharmacy consulting
• Medication reconciliation

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Health Canada Funding: ISMP Canada Safety Bulletins are complimentary with support from Health Canada. Core operations and many programs are funded through Health Canada partnerships.
2. Consulting Services: Medication safety consulting services including Incident Analysis, Medication System Safety Reviews, FMEA assessments, and Community Pharmacy consultations provided to healthcare organizations.
3. Education Programs: Revenue from virtual workshops, eLearning modules, and custom designed learning sessions. Workshops include Incident Analysis, Medication Reconciliation, Lean Six Sigma Certification, and specialty programs.
4. MSSA Program Fees: Medication Safety Self-Assessment programs priced at $150 per program for individual organizations, with collaborative group pricing at $350 (3-30 users) or $950 (more than 30 users).
5. eLearning Module Sales: Individual eLearning modules sold at various price points including $9.95 for single modules, $29.95 for module bundles, $150 for pediatric programs, $225 for compliance packaging, and $500 for comprehensive community pharmacy programs.
6. Provincial Government Partnerships: 3-year partnership with Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care to support long-term care homes in strengthening medication safety.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

ISMP Canada operates national medication incident reporting and learning systems (NIDR for community pharmacies, NSIR for healthcare facilities, and CPhIR as the pharmacy reporting program) and converts the aggregated incident data into evidence-informed recommendations, education programs (eLearning, virtual workshops, practicum), Medication Safety Self-Assessments for multiple healthcare settings, and consulting services (incident analysis, FMEA, medication system safety reviews). It also runs a consumer-facing medication error reporting portal (MedError.ca) and produces the long-running ISMP Canada Safety Bulletins used by healthcare organizations and consumers across Canada.

Product overview

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada operates a unified platform of medication safety products and services built around incident reporting, analysis, and learning. The core offering centers on three interconnected incident data repositories: the National Incident Data Repository for Community Pharmacies (NIDR) paired with the Community Pharmacy Incident Reporting (CPhIR) program, the National System for Incident Reporting (NSIR) for healthcare facilities and long-term care homes, and the Analyze-ERR software tool. These feed into ISMP Canada Safety Bulletins that disseminate evidence-informed recommendations. Supporting modules include the Medication Safety Self-Assessment (MSSA) suite for multiple healthcare settings, the MedError consumer-facing portal for public reporting, and the SMART Medication Safety Agenda providing actionable guidance. Education services through the eLearning portal and virtual workshops, plus consulting services, extend the platform. The Canadian Medication Safety Network and Med Safety Exchange facilitate community engagement and knowledge sharing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MedError: Consumer-focused medication safety website for Canadians to report medication errors and access medication safety information
• Canadian Medication Safety Network
• National System for Incident Reporting (NSIR)
• National Incident Data Repository for Community Pharmacies (NIDR)
• Community Pharmacy Incident Reporting (CPhIR)
• Medication Safety Self-Assessment (MSSA)

Products and services

• National Incident Data Repository for Community Pharmacies (NIDR) A national repository that collects near miss and medication incident reports submitted by community pharmacies as a component of the Canadian Medication Incident Reporting and Prevention System (CMIRPS), supporting national learning and safety improvement across Canada.
• Community Pharmacy Incident Reporting (CPhIR) Program Web-based incident reporting platform that allows community pharmacies to anonymously submit medication error reports for shared national learning and safety improvement.
• National System for Incident Reporting (NSIR) Reporting system for healthcare facilities and long-term care homes to securely and anonymously share data related to medication and radiation treatment incidents, consisting of two modules (medication and NSIR-RT), with operations transitioning from CIHI to ISMP Canada by March 2026.
• Analyze-ERR Proprietary software documentation tool designed by ISMP Canada to track and analyze medication errors, used by hospitals to report anonymous information on medication incidents.
• Medication Safety Self-Assessment (MSSA) Self-assessment programs that evaluate medication system safety, identify vulnerabilities, increase awareness of safe practices, and monitor progress over time, available for Hospital, Community Pharmacy, Long-Term Care, Home Care, and Paramedic Organizations settings at $150 per program.
• ISMP Canada Safety Bulletins Regular complimentary publications that share analysis of medication incidents and evidence-informed recommendations to help healthcare organizations strengthen medication-use systems and prevent errors, distributed via mailing list to subscribers across Canada (Volume 26 in 2026).
• MedError Consumer Website Consumer-focused website at mederror.ca for Canadians to report medication errors and access medication safety information; paired with consumer newsletters and alerts. Reports from MedError have led to system-based change such as manufacturer packaging updates.
• eLearning Portal Online educational portal at elearn.ismp-canada.org providing interactive courses on medication safety topics including Just Culture Essentials, Safe Use of Insulin Pens, Multiple IV Infusion Safety, Pediatric Safety, Medication Reconciliation, and Compliance Packaging, available anytime from any computer with internet access at module prices ranging from free to $500.
• Virtual Workshops Live virtual workshops providing theory and hands-on practice on medication safety topics including Incident Analysis, FMEA, Medication Reconciliation, Safe Label and Package Design, Multi-Incident Analysis, and Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification, available in English and French.
• Medication Safety Consulting Services Consulting services including Incident Analysis, Medication System Safety Reviews, Proactive Risk Assessment using FMEA, and Community Pharmacy Medication Safety Consultation, delivered by nationally recognized medication safety experts directly to healthcare organizations.
• SMART Medication Safety Agenda Practical guidance resource that turns learnings from NIDR incidents into system-based recommendations with ready-to-use SMART action plan templates, pairing real anonymized examples with recommendations specifically for community pharmacy teams.
• Canadian Medication Safety Network Free community network enabling healthcare providers and consumers across Canada to share medication safety needs, opportunities, and learnings from communities nationwide.
• Med Safety Exchange Complimentary 50-minute webinars for healthcare professionals to share, learn, and discuss medication incident reports, trends, and emerging issues across Canada.
• Practicum in Medication Safety International educational program for practicing nurses, pharmacists, physicians, and other healthcare providers interested in further study of medication safety theory and practical applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Prairie Research Associates evaluation confirmed ISMP Canada activities positively impacting Canadian health system with products integrated into national and provincial standards, guidelines, and policy documents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2025CIHI and ISMP Canada are transitioning management and operations of the National System for Incident Reporting (NSIR) to ISMP Canada by March 2026. The transition includes both medication and radiation treatment (NSIR-RT) reporting programs. CIHI will remain a partner in CMIRPS and continue contributing to patient safety initiatives.
• Health CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Canada provides funding support for ISMP Canada Safety Bulletins and is a founding partner of the Canadian Medication Incident Reporting and Prevention System (CMIRPS). Works with ISMP Canada on national medication safety initiatives.
• Healthcare Excellence CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare Excellence Canada (formerly Canadian Patient Safety Institute) is a founding partner of CMIRPS and collaborates on initiatives including the Focus on Never Events MSSA programs and national patient safety campaigns.
• Patients for Patient Safety CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient advocacy partner in CMIRPS, contributing consumer perspective to medication safety initiatives and collaborating on consumer reporting programs including MedError.ca.
• Ontario Ministry of Long-Term CarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner3-year partnership with Ministry of Long-Term Care to support long-term care homes in strengthening medication safety. Includes funding for tools, education, and quality improvement initiatives addressing Gillese Inquiry recommendations.
• Appropriate Use CoalitionsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerISMP Canada working with Appropriate Use Coalition to raise awareness and action regarding rising antipsychotic use rates in Canada's long-term care homes.
• HealthPRO CanadasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with ISMP Canada on cisatracurium labeling and packaging questionnaire that contributed to safer packaging changes based on healthcare provider feedback.
• Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-created Just Culture Essentials eLearning module with ISMP Canada, providing general introduction to just culture for all healthcare staff.
• Ontario Pharmacists AssociationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboratively developed Preventing and Analyzing Medication Errors program for community pharmacies in Ontario, accredited for 6.5 CEUs.
• International Medication Safety NetworksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of medication safety organizations with David K. U serving as General Secretary. Enables international collaboration and knowledge sharing on medication safety best practices.
• Provincial Pharmacy Regulatory AuthoritiessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial regulatory bodies periodically use ISMP Canada consulting services to support remedial approaches as part of investigation and discipline processes. Includes College of Pharmacists of BC, Ontario College of Pharmacists, and other provincial bodies.
• Accreditation CanadasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with ISMP Canada and Canadian Patient Safety Institute on Do Not Use List campaign to eliminate dangerous abbreviations, symbols and dose designations in healthcare.
• Ontario Long-Term Care HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario LTC homes participating in Strengthening Medication Safety initiative including 10 Champion Homes, 60 Trailblazer Homes (2022-2023), and up to 100 Innovator Homes, receiving tools, facilitation, and coaching.
• Provincial Healthcare Organizations (NIDR Participants)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan contribute to National Incident Data Repository for Community Pharmacies and receive provincial safety briefs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Joint Commission: The Joint Commission accredits US healthcare organizations and maintains the Sentinel Event reporting system and National Patient Safety Goals (including medication-related NPSGs). Comparable as a national/standards-setting body influencing hospital medication safety practices, but with a much broader accreditation and compliance mandate.
• ECRI Institute: ECRI is an independent, large-scale patient safety and healthcare quality organization that operates adverse event reporting systems, publishes safety guidance, and serves hospitals and health systems — overlapping with ISMP Canada's incident reporting and consulting work but with a much broader medical-device and patient-safety scope.
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI): IHI is a globally recognized healthcare quality improvement organization offering training, frameworks, and consulting to reduce patient harm — comparable to ISMP Canada's education/training programs and consulting services, but operating at a global scale across all patient safety domains, not just medication.
• Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI): CIHI is the Canadian national health data organization that previously operated NSIR before transitioning it to ISMP Canada. Comparable as a national health data steward and CMIRPS partner, but with a far broader mandate covering all health system data, not medication safety specifically.
• World Health Organization Patient Safety Programme: WHO's Patient Safety Programme runs the Global Patient Safety Action Plan and Medication Without Harm initiative, the global-level analogue of ISMP Canada's national medication safety mission. Comparable on mission and standards-setting influence, but operating globally across all patient safety domains and through member-state policy rather than direct operational programs.
• Healthcare Excellence Canada: Healthcare Excellence Canada (formerly Canadian Patient Safety Institute) is a CMIRPS founding partner that runs broader patient safety programs (including Focus on Never Events MSSAs with ISMP Canada). Comparable as a Canadian national safety organization with overlapping programs, but with a broader patient safety scope beyond medication.

Direct peers

• National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP): NCC MERP is a US-based independent body that classifies medication errors and publishes recommendations to prevent patient harm. Directly comparable to ISMP Canada's bulletin and recommendation publication work, though smaller in scope and without the incident-reporting infrastructure.
• Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP US): ISMP US is the US counterpart and namesake organization operating national medication error reporting programs (NPSR/MERP), publishing safety alerts, and providing consulting and education on medication safety — the closest direct peer by mission, product set, and operating model.

Regional players

• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care: The Australian Commission leads national medication safety initiatives (including the National Medication Safety Strategy) and operates incident reporting for Australian healthcare — closely comparable to ISMP Canada's mandate but serving Australia rather than Canada.
• NHS England Patient Safety Domain: NHS England's patient safety programs include the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) and Learn From Patient Safety Events (LFPSE) service for medication and other incidents. Comparable as a national incident-reporting and learning system, but embedded within a national health service and serving the UK market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MedicationSafety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-safe-medication-practices-canada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada