SCCM Resource Library-Multidisciplinary Management of Drug Shortages and Associated Ethical Dilemmas

Pdf Summary

The document discusses the importance of multidisciplinary committees in addressing drug shortages within hospitals and healthcare systems. It emphasizes the need for clear communication, defining roles, and involving various stakeholders to create effective management strategies during shortages. The impact of drug shortages, particularly during events like the COVID-19 pandemic, is highlighted, stressing the ethical dilemmas faced by clinicians in providing care and the need for transparency in decision-making processes.<br /><br />The creation of specific drug shortages committees or scarce resource allocation committees is recommended to facilitate rapid decision-making and implementation of policies. Involving information technology specialists in generating alerts and reports is crucial to managing shortages efficiently. The document also touches upon ethical considerations, such as transparency, equity, and consistency, in addressing drug shortages to ensure fair allocation of resources and patient care.<br /><br />Various organizations, like the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the Society of Critical Care Medicine, offer guidelines and alerts to assist healthcare teams in managing drug shortages effectively. The involvement of healthcare ethics consultants is emphasized in decision-making processes to uphold ethical principles in patient care amidst shortages. In conclusion, the document stresses the importance of proactive planning, multidisciplinary collaboration, and adherence to ethical standards to mitigate the challenges associated with drug shortages and ensure quality patient care.

Asset Subtitle

Pharmacology, Crisis Management, 2024, 00:07:51

Asset Caption

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

Drug shortages have posed significant patient safety issues in the past, including during the COVID-19 pandemic as shortages affected immunomodulators (e.g., tocilizumab), antivirals (e.g., remdesivir), sedatives, and opioid analgesics. Creating a multidisciplinary drug shortages committee to monitor and make rapid evidence-based decisions during drug shortages is essential for every hospital and healthcare system.

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 Pharmacology

Knowledge Area Crisis Management

Membership Level Associate

Membership Level Professional

Membership Level Select

Tag Pharmacology

Tag Resource Allocation

Year 2024

Keywords

multidisciplinary committees

drug shortages

Article

healthcare systems

clear communication

stakeholders

management strategies

Pharmacology

COVID-19 pandemic

Crisis Management

scarce resource allocation committees

information technology specialists

ethical considerations

Resource Allocation

2024

Associate

Professional

Select

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