Medical Product Safety Educational Resources
MedWatch: Your FDA gateway for clinically important safety information and reporting serious problems with human medical products.
MedWatch Minute For Health Professionals
This short graphic video gives medical professionals an overview of the MedWatch program with information about how to sign up for it and how to use it. Run time 1 min 27 sec
MedWatch Minute For Consumers
The FDA regulates a wide range of products, including drugs for people and animals, biologics, medical devices, dietary supplements, infant formulas, and cosmetics. Consumers can report unexpected side effects, adverse events, or other problems they may experience with a regulated product through FDA's MedWatch program. Run time 2 min 20 sec
Minuto de MedWatch
La FDA regula una amplia variedad de productos, que incluyen medicamentos para personas y animales, productos biológicos, dispositivos médicos, suplementos dietéticos, fórmulas infantiles y productos cosméticos. Los consumidores pueden reportar efectos secundarios inesperados, eventos adversos u otros problemas con productos regulados a través del programa MedWatch de la FDA.
MedWatch Tips & Tools for Health Professionals
FDA needs to know when a serious problem with a medical product is suspected or identified in clinical use. FDA Drug Info Rounds pharmacists discuss how FDA’s MedWatch program makes it easy to get important safety information directly from you to us. Run time 3 min 14 sec
MedWatch for Nurses: Clinically Important Reporting and Safety Resources for Practice
FDA's MedWatch Program is a valuable resource for nurses in any practice setting, providing important information on all medical products as well as for reporting problems with them. Run time 2 min.
Bad Reactions to Cosmetics? Tell FDA!
From styling our hair to showering before bed, Americans love cosmetics. Most are safe, but some cause problems, and that's when the Food and Drug Administration gets involved. Run time 1 min 34 sec.
FDA Case Studies
Each case study promotes active learning through exercises, instructor-led discussions, and quizzes. Designed as a fictional case study based on a real-world scenario, the curriculum follows a format similar to Harvard Business Review Case Studies and builds on previous case studies.
BeSafeRx: Know Your Online Pharmacy
A national campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of buying prescription medicines from fake online pharmacies.
Safety Information Resources for Health Professionals
Learn about medical product safety information available from FDA.
Video, approximately 11 minutes
Choose 150k bit rate videos for slower internet connections.
"Busy healthcare professionals need the best safety information at the right time to help manage their patients' care."
Dr. Janet Woodcock, FDA
MedWatch: Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting
In this expert column, Norman Marks, MD, Director of the FDA's MedWatch program, discusses the role of MedWatch in adverse event reporting and in disseminating timely and targeted safety information.
Medscape Pharmacists-Expert Column, March 11, 2009
"[MedWatch is] a trusted source of safety information as you provide the best care for your patients."
Dr. Norman Marks, FDA
Boxed Warnings and Other FDA Communication Tools
In this editorial, FDA Medical Officers Norman Marks and Karen Weiss discuss the risk communication tools used by the FDA to provide science- based, credible, and timely information that make a physician's job easier and patients safer.
American Family Physician, February 1, 2010, Volume 81, Number 3
"Well-placed information can assist a busy physician in locating new drug safety information at the point of care."
Dr. Norman Marks, FDA
Dr. Karen Weiss, FDA
Safe Disposal of Medications and Sharps in the Home Setting
A joint presentation by FDA and the American Nurses Association provides information on safe disposal of unused or expired treatments, medications, and devices used in the home setting.
"As healthcare has shifted from the hospital setting to the home, so have nurses who often provide the care. This webinar educates nurses and their patients on how to handle these risks."
Christine Merenda, RN, FDA
Introducing MedWatch: A New Approach to Reporting Medication and Device Adverse Effects and Product Problems, JAMA, June 2, 1993, Vol 269, No 21. David Kessler, MD.
Original article announcing the implementation and rationale for the MedWatch program.