SCCM Resource Library-Impact of Drug Shortages on Patient Outcomes

Pdf Summary

The document discusses the impact of drug shortages on patient outcomes in critical care settings. Despite the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, drug shortages continue to pose significant challenges to healthcare systems. Drug shortages have led to increased economic costs, medication errors, treatment delays, and compromised patient care. Various studies highlighted in the document demonstrate the negative effects of drug shortages on patient outcomes, including increased mortality, medication errors, hospital admissions, and decreased patient satisfaction.<br /><br />Examples from the literature review include reports of dosing errors in pediatric patients, increased costs and use of alternative antibiotics during shortages, and higher rates of adverse events in patients exposed to opioid shortages. Critically ill patients are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of drug shortages due to their need for immediate and specific therapeutics.<br /><br />The authors of the document emphasize the need for evidence-based approaches to mitigate drug shortages, such as using safe alternatives, implementing communication strategies among healthcare professionals, and establishing guidelines for managing shortages. It is crucial for healthcare providers to be aware of the root causes of drug shortages and their impacts on patient care in order to address these challenges effectively. Ultimately, a multiprofessional and systematic approach is vital to managing drug shortages and ensuring optimal care for critically ill patients.

Asset Subtitle

Crisis Management, Quality and Patient Safety, 2024, 00:10:45

Asset Caption

"This article was first published in the Winter 2024 issue of Critical Connections.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reported 301 active shortages in the United States in just the first quarter of 2023—the highest number of shortages in more than 10 years. Drug shortages have severe economic, clinical, and humanistic effects on patient outcomes. The article’s review of recent literature demonstrated the impact of critical care drug shortages on medication safety, morbidity, and mortality.

Critical Connections, the critical care industry’s only newsmagazine, provides information on cutting-edge topics in critical care useful to the entire multiprofessional team."

Meta Tag

Content Type Article

Knowledge Area Crisis Management

Knowledge Area Quality and Patient Safety

Membership Level Associate

Membership Level Professional

Membership Level Select

Tag Resource Allocation

Year 2024

Keywords

drug shortages

patient outcomes

critical care settings

healthcare systems

economic costs

medication errors

treatment delays

compromised patient care

mortality rates

adverse events

Article

Crisis Management

Resource Allocation

Quality and Patient Safety

2024

Associate

Professional

Select

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