SCCM Resource Library-Drug Shortage Alert: General Considerations (December 2022)

Pdf Summary

The document outlines a strategic approach for handling drug shortages within healthcare systems. Drug shortages have become a more frequent issue, significantly impacting patient care and demanding substantial resources for management. This alert aims to equip multi-professional teams with a consistent, safe method for addressing these shortages.<br /><br />Key planning considerations include identifying a shortage through the Pharmacy Buyer or Purchasing Manager, who should monitor supply chains and communicate with colleagues nationally to anticipate broader shortages. When a potential shortage is identified, assessing current inventories and historical usage patterns aids in projecting the impact and necessary actions.<br /><br />Preparation involves collaborating across medical, nursing, and pharmacy teams to find therapeutic alternatives, ensuring sufficient supply, and possibly establishing collaborative arrangements with other institutions. Decision criteria for drug allocation during a shortage should be developed, while avoiding stockpiling to prevent exacerbating shortages.<br /><br />In contingency planning, the document advises on the cautious use of drugs from nontraditional or compounding sources, emphasizing quality verification, and considering financial implications due to increased costs.<br /><br />Personnel management might require reallocating existing staff or adding new positions to manage drug shortages effectively. The pharmacy informatics team plays a crucial role in integrating alternative agents into electronic medication delivery systems, updating smart pump libraries, and ensuring barcode medication administration compatibility.<br /><br />Communication is vital, and should be maintained with all staff, providing real-time updates and strategies regarding drug shortages. Distributing drug alerts and memos to relevant personnel, including detailed alternative medication information, is crucial.<br /><br />Additionally, both internal and external resources like Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committees, professional organizations, and online platforms should be leveraged for alert dissemination, formulary management, and obtaining real-time information to minimize the impact of drug shortages on patient care.

Asset Subtitle

Pharmacology, Crisis Management, 2022, 0:08:57

Asset Caption

Drug supply issues have become increasingly common and more severe in recent years. Drug shortages can have a significant impact on patient care and require considerable resources to prevent adverse patient outcomes. Accepting drug shortages as part of daily operations and developing a proactive approach to managing these shortages can help minimize their impact on patients, staff, and organizations. This drug shortage alert is designed to assist the multiprofessional critical care team with implementing a consistent and safe approach to managing drug shortages by highlighting key strategic planning considerations. The recommendations provided within this document are per current evidence, based on a review of available literature by the SCCM Drug Shortages and Medication Safety Committee.

Meta Tag

Content Type Article

Knowledge Area Pharmacology

Knowledge Area Crisis Management

Membership Level Nonmember

Membership Level Associate

Membership Level Professional

Membership Level Select

Tag Pharmacology

Tag Resource Allocation

Year 2022

Keywords

drug shortages

healthcare systems

patient care

supply chains

therapeutic alternatives

contingency planning

pharmacy informatics

communication

resource management

collaborative arrangements

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