Drug Shortages
After easing slightly last year, the number of drugs on shortage surged this year, creating stress for virtually every hospital pharmacy across the country. Of particular concern is the direct impact over the past year on patient safety and procedure timelines: There has been a threefold increase in the number of shortages that compromised patient care or patient safety, and shortages that led to delayed or cancelled procedures more than doubled this year. In addition, most facilities have faced increases in expenditures, workloads, inventory, and compounding as a result of drug shortages, all of which negatively impact staff productivity and satisfaction in the already stressed post-pandemic environment. Given the trend of increased cancer incidences in younger patients, the pressure to produce chemotherapy and affiliated medicines will only increase, with ongoing shortages in this area likely to have catastrophic results.
Drug shortages typically involve generic drugs and are so widespread that managing them has become a standard responsibility within pharmacy. Over the past year, 96% of facilities across the US were forced to use alternative products in response to a drug shortage, and this number held true across facilities of all sizes.
The assignation of shortage management responsibilities differs based on facility size. Smaller facilities are more likely to rely on pharmacy technicians to manage shortages, while mid-size facilities typically appoint the pharmacy buyer to this role, and large systems are more likely to assign these tasks to a pharmacist.
The number of drugs on shortage this year has grown exponentially. Over the past few years, facilities commonly had up to 20 shortages that required alternative products. Now it is not unusual to be managing twice that amount.
There was a notable uptick this year in the number of facilities relying on medical ethicists to make distribution determinations as the impact of shortages on patient care becomes more urgent, such as in the case of oncology patients.
A slim majority of facilities (52%) have a dedicated employee assigned to manage shortages.
Click here to view a larger version of this FIGURE.
While increases in drug expenditures and pharmacy workload are the most common impacts from drug shortages, additional concerning trends appeared this year. Those facilities with shortages that compromised patient care or patient safety leapt from 18% last year to 54% this year. Similarly, facilities that were forced to cancel or delay procedures because of drug shortages more than doubled from 16% last year to 37% this year.
Like what you've read? Please log in or create a free account to enjoy more of what www.pppmag.com has to offer.
Recent Popular Articles
Current Issue
