Busy doctors need a quick method of finding up-to-date and science-based new safety information on the human medical products that they use, prescribe or administer in patient care. MedWatch delivers free Safety Alerts to doctors, either online or delivered to the doctor at the point-of-care via email or text message to their computer or smartphone. Run time 5 min.

Reporting Adverse Events to FDA's MedWatch Program (FDA Patient Safety News, December 2009)

What to report to FDA when you suspect that a serious adverse event, product quality problem, product use error, or therapeutic inequivalence/failure may be associated with the use of an FDA-regulated human medical product. Run time 3 min 50 seconds. 

Click the video to play, or use the following link to read the transcript of the video and get links for the video presented in wvm, Real, and mpeg formats:

FDA Patient Safety News, Show #93, December 2009

Your Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA (FDA Consumer Update)

Reports of problems submitted to FDA by consumers are an important part of the agency’s strategy for identifying risks with products after they’ve reached the market. These reports help FDA protect the health and safety of all Americans—and can ultimately save lives. MedWatch Medical Director Norman Marks explains how the public can submit reports and how the agency uses this information. Run time 3 min.

Safety Information Resources for Health Professionals

Learn about medical product safety information available from FDA.

Video, approximately 11 minutes

Windows: 300k | 150k
Real:       300k | 150k

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

FDA MedWatch and Patient Safety

A self-learning tutorial covering the MedWatch program goals of broadcasting safety information and encouraging adverse event reporting.

• Video, approximately 24 minutes. 
• Powerpoint presentation [25 slides]
• Transcript
• Self-administered quiz with answers

" ... Even a few voluntary reports ... can become the signal that leads to a label change or other FDA actions to improve the safe use of a medical product."

Dr. Norman Marks, 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