Safe Administration of Oxytocin

Last updated on December 19, 2022

The Safe Administration of Oxytocin guideline report, developed by PCMCH in 2019, outlines best practice recommendations for the safe management of pregnant patients whose labour is induced or augmented with the medication oxytocin. The objective of the report is to reduce the risk of misuse and/or mismanagement of oxytocin by addressing risk factors that have contributed to common errors in its administration. To promote a culture of safety when using this high-alert medication, 11 best practice recommendations were identified and vetted by clinical experts.

Safe Administration of Oxytocin Guideline Report

The report has been formally endorsed by the following organizations:

Implementation Toolkit

To support implementation of these best practices recommendations, tools and an implementation toolkit have been created. This toolkit is intended to support hospitals in identifying which best practice recommendations to prioritize and implement. It aims to support implementation by providing tools that can be applied in practice, bridging identified gaps and enhancing safety when administering oxytocin.

Download the Safe Administration of Oxytocin – Implementation Toolkit.

Download the Safe Administration of Oxytocin Guideline Report

Watch the informational video about the Safe Administration of Oxytocin 11 Best Practice Recommendations:

Individual Tools

Download the individual tools below.

Webinar: Safe Administration of Oxytocin

PCMCH hosted a webinar on March 7, 2022 to discuss the relaunched Safe Administration of Oxytocin Guideline Report and new Implementation Toolkit.

Speakers

  • Joanna Noble, Lead Special Operations, Healthcare Safety and Risk Management – Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada (HIROC)
  • Dr. Mark Walker, Safe Administration of Oxytocin Project Co-lead, Obstetrician Gynecologist, Clinical Specialist, Maternal Fetal Medicine – University of Ottawa
  • Lauren Rivard, Perinatal Consultant – Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program (CMNRP)
  • Dr. Gareth Seaward, Safe Administration of Oxytocin Project QI Advisor, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, Deputy Director of the Fetal Medicine Unit – Mount Sinai Hospital

Additional resources