Posted on Nov 3, 2025
Millions of North Americans believe that they are allergic to penicillin, yet studies show that most people can take it safely. These mistaken labels often lead to the unnecessary use of alternative antibiotics that are more costly, less effective, and contribute to antibiotic resistance. A physician-led initiative in BC is working to clear up the confusion.
Last year, we shared how the Penicillin De-labelling Project—led by Dr Tiffany Wong, pediatric allergist at BC Children’s Hospital and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, and Dr Rochelle Stimpson, a family physician at the BC Centre for Disease Control—was improving antibiotic prescribing accuracy across BC by helping patients safely remove incorrect penicillin allergy labels.
Since then, the initiative has expanded rapidly.
What began as a pilot in 2021 has transformed into a province-wide innovative learning model operating in 26 locations across British Columbia from 2023-2024. The project is supported through the Spreading Quality Improvement (SQI) initiative, co-funded by Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health.
The learning model, called a “Sprint”, adapts the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Breakthrough Series Collaborative model into a more streamlined, focused and efficient format. The project brought together 86 primary care providers, specialists, nurses, pharmacists, and medical office assistants from hospital, rural, and community clinics.
The project has now been adapted for further spread on Vancouver Island, where eight additional teams are implementing the approach as well within Interior and Northern Health authorities that are continuing this work.
“Doing this work as a team creates a real sense of community and shared learning—that’s what spreading quality improvement is all about,” says Dr Alicia Power, a participating family physician in Victoria.
“Many people were told they’re allergic because of a childhood rash likely caused by an infection, not the medication,” says Dr Wong. “By safely removing these labels, we’re improving treatment options and overall care.”
Between September 2023 and October 2024, more than 800 patients were assessed and over 600 incorrect allergy labels were removed—based on data from half of the participating sites. More data is now being collected from Vancouver Island, Northern and Interior Health authorities.
The benefits are clear: patients regain access to effective treatments, providers can prescribe appropriately, and system costs are reduced.
“This project gives you confidence in the healthcare of your loved ones,” says a participating parent whose son benefited from having a penicillin allergy safely de-labelled.
Dr Daisy Dulay, cardiologist and Specialist Services Committee physician co-chair, adds, “Joint Collaborative Committees’ funding is creating the conditions for innovation. This isn’t just a project—it’s a model for how physician-led collaboration can drive system-wide improvement.”
As the project expands to additional community practices across BC, it continues to demonstrate how physician-led, collaborative care can measurably improve patient outcomes and system performance.
About the Project:
For Providers: Access tools and resources to help your patients safely “drop the label.”
This project is funded by the Spreading Quality Improvement (SQI) initiative, which is part of the Specialist Services Committee, one of four joint collaborative committees representing a partnership between Doctors of BC and the Government of BC.
Initial partners in this work included the BC Children’s Hospital, the BC Centre for Disease Control, and has since expanded to spreading to teams within Vancouver Island Health, Interior Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, Interior Health and Northern Health authorities.
The SQI team extends its sincere thanks to all participants in the Sprint for Penicillin Allergy De-labelling 2023–2024 for their invaluable contributions in refining and enhancing the project toolkit.
