New National Drug Terminology Adds Value to Canadian Digital Health Solutions

The Canadian Clinical Drug Data Set (CCDD) is a national drug terminology that enables the sharing of drug data between different systems for e-prescribing, medication profiles and secondary use such as adverse drug monitoring. The CCDD ensures the consistent representation of medication characteristics such as ingredients, strengths and forms.

The CCDD was developed by terminology experts at Infoway and the Health Products and Food Branch of Health Canada, who engaged an advisory group of vendors, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, safety organizations and jurisdictional representatives to transform and enhance existing Health Canada drug content.

The CCDD has been rapidly deployed into digital health systems across the country, including electronic medical records (EMRs), pharmacy management systems (PMS) and drug information systems (DIS). The terminology is updated monthly, in English and French, and is available at no cost through Health Canada.

“The CCDD can support digital health initiatives such as e-prescribing, e-medication reconciliation, hospital discharge reports and adverse drug reaction reporting,” said Jamie Bruce, Executive Vice President, Infoway. “For prescribers and pharmacists who are using PrescribeIT^®, Canada’s national e-prescribing service, the CCDD is improving clinical workflows and it’s also increasing patient safety by supporting drug interaction checking and allowing prescriptions to be sent to provincial DIS.”

For more information about the CCDD, go to https://infocentral.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/standards/canadian/ccdd or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Canada Health Infoway

Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Visit www.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/.

About PrescribeIT^®

Canada Health Infoway is working with Health Canada, the provinces and territories, and industry stakeholders to develop, operate and maintain the national e-prescribing service known as PrescribeIT^®. PrescribeIT^® will serve all Canadians, pharmacies and prescribers and provide safer and more effective medication management by enabling prescribers to transmit a prescription electronically between a prescriber’s electronic medical record (EMR) and the pharmacy management system (PMS) of a patient’s pharmacy of choice. PrescribeIT^® will protect Canadians’ personal health information from being sold or used for commercial activities. Visit www.prescribeit.ca/.

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