ER Drug Shortages

[membership level=”0,4″][The content continues for paid members only.] Login or Subscribe [/membership][membership level=”1,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12″][membership] A new study published in Academic Emergency Medicine shows that drug shortages in emergency rooms (ERs) across the U.S. increased by more than 400% between 2001 and 2014, the Washington Post is reporting.  The study analyzed data from the University of Utah Drug Information Service, which uses information from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Practicing ER physicians determined whether the drugs are used in ERs, and reported that of the nearly 1,800 drug shortages reported between 2001 and 2014, about 34% were used in emergency rooms. The study reports that while the number of shortages fell between 2002 and 2007, they have risen by 435% between 2008 and 2014.  FDA, with the help of ISPE and PDA, have been actively involved in producing strategies to reduce and mitigate drug shortages (IPQ February 27, 2013).  Regarding overall shortages, FDA reported to Congress in early 2014 that there was a clear reduction in new shortages during the first three quarters of 2013 (IPQ January 31, 2013).
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