The 2012 ISMP International Medication Safety Self Assessment^® for Oncology was developed by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada (ISMP Canada), through a grant from the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP) to help hospitals and ambulatory care centers throughout the world evaluate oncology medication safety. Chemotherapy and biotherapy agents used in cancer treatment are considered to be "high-alert" drugs which are more likely to cause patient harm when involved in an error. The self assessment is designed to heighten awareness of the distinguishing characteristics of a safe medication system, with a specific focus on management of chemotherapy, biotherapy, and treatment-related drugs.

The self assessment is divided into ISMP's Key Elements of the Medication Use System™. Each of the ten key elements significantly influences safe medication use and is further defined by one or more core characteristics. Each core characteristic contains individual self assessment items to help you evaluate your success with achieving each core characteristic.

The 2012 ISMP International Medication Safety Self Assessment^® for Oncology and its components are copyrighted by ISMP and ISMP Canada and may not be used in whole or in part for any other purpose or by any other entity except for the self assessment of medication systems by organizations/practice settings as part of their ongoing quality improvement activities. The aggregate results of this assessment will be used for research and educational purposes only.

ISMP and ISMP Canada are not standard setting organizations. As such, the self assessment items in this document are not purported to represent a minimum standard of practice and should not be considered as such. In fact, some of the self assessment items represent innovative practices and system enhancements that are not widely implemented in most organizations/practice settings today. However, their value in reducing errors is grounded in scientific research and/or expert analysis of medication errors and their causes.

You can view and download the assessment here.