What is CAMER?

CAMER is the California Medication Error Reporting system established under California Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 4113.1. It requires community pharmacies that dispense medications to outpatients in California to report medication errors to an approved entity, currently the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP).​

Who must report to CAMER?

All community pharmacies licensed to dispense medications to California patients, including non-resident pharmacies, must report medication errors to CAMER. The only exclusions are Department of Corrections facilities and outpatient hospital pharmacies that already report adverse events under different state requirements.​

What types of medication errors must be reported?

Medication errors that occur in community pharmacies involving dispensings or processes that could or did lead to patient harm must be reported. This includes errors related to prescription type, drug name, strength, quantities, prescribers, and other aspects relevant to the medication dispensing and use process.​

When must a pharmacy submit a report to CAMER?

Pharmacies must report medication errors within 14 days of discovery of the error. The system became effective September 1, 2025, and all medication errors that occur on or after this date must be submitted to CAMER per legal requirements.​

How to submit reports to CAMER?

Pharmacies must register with ISMP’s CAMER system (https://mederrors.ismp.org/) to submit reports. ISMP provides the platform for report submission, review, and data collection. Some pharmacies participating in Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) may fulfill reporting through their PSO and should confirm these pathways before registering directly with ISMP.​

What information is required in CAMER reports?

Required data elements include:

  • Pharmacy identifier, type, and location
  • Date of incident and report date
  • Patient demographics (age, sex, ethnicity, insurance type)
  • Medication details (drug name, strength, quantity, RxNorm code)
  • Prescription and prescriber type
  • Event type and the stage of process where the error occurred
  • Technology and staff involved
  • Work volume and staffing during error occurrence

This information aligns with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Common Formats for Community Pharmacies.​

What if a pharmacy is already reporting through a PSO?

Pharmacies enrolled in a Patient Safety Organization may be covered for CAMER reporting requirements through their PSO. However, it is recommended to verify if the PSO reporting satisfies CAMER rules before registering directly with ISMP.​

How long must pharmacies keep CAMER reports?

Pharmacies must maintain documentation of CAMER reporting compliance for a minimum of 3 years and provide it upon request by the California Board of Pharmacy.​

What if the medication error is discovered after the patient has left the pharmacy?

If an error is discovered after the patient encounter but pertains to a medication dispensed in the community pharmacy setting, it must still be reported within 14 days of discovery.​

Does CAMER replace other quality assurance or reporting requirements?

No. CAMER is a distinct statutory obligation from quality assurance programs or other mandatory reporting requirements. Pharmacies must comply with CAMER reporting separately regardless of other internal QA efforts or external reporting.​

References

  1. California State Board of Pharmacy. California Medication Error Reporting (CAMER). Published May 20, 2025. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/licensees/facility/camer_fact_sheet.pdf
  2. California State Board of Pharmacy. CAMER August 1, 2025 Update. Published July 31, 2025. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/licensees/facility/camer_update_080125.pdf
  3. Association for Pharmacy Compounding. California now requires medication error reporting. Published April 4, 2024. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://a4pc.org/news/california-now-requires-medication-error-reporting
  4. Cloudbyz. A comprehensive guide to pharmacovigilance regulatory reporting: ensuring patient safety and compliance. Published November 15, 2023. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.cloudbyz.com/resources/pharmacovigilance/a-comprehensive-guide-to-pharmacovigilance-regulatory-reporting-ensuring-patient-safety-and-compliance/
  5. European Medicines Agency. Pharmacovigilance: regulatory and procedural guidance. Published April 28, 2016. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/pharmacovigilance-post-authorisation/pharmacovigilance-regulatory-procedural-guidance
  6. Nguyen N. Pharmacy security: know the options. US Pharmacist. Published August 17, 2015. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/pharmacy-security-know-the-options
  7. California Society of Health-System Pharmacists. California Board of Pharmacy CAMER update [Facebook post]. Published June 23, 2023. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSHP/posts/california-board-of-pharmacy-camer-updatethe-california-board-of-pharmacy-recent/1206236481540641/
  8. Good Clinical Practice & Pharmacovigilance Compliance [YouTube video]. Published March 10, 2024. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNs2gEbpNrs
  9. Pavion. A guide to pharmacy security systems. Published April 25, 2024. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://pavion.com/resource/a-guide-to-pharmacy-security-systems/
  10. California Medication Error Reporting (CAMER) update [Instagram post]. Published September 6, 2025. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DOTqOpBkVb0/