Drug shortages in the ED on the rise

The number of drug shortages affecting emergency care in the U.S. rose 373 percent from 2008 to 2014, according to a study in Academic Emergency Medicine.

Advertisement

That is a sharp turnaround from the trend from 2002 to 2007, when such shortages fell.

Shortages occur when medications are approved, but manufacturers cannot meet demands or no longer make the drugs.

“Many of those medications are for life-threatening conditions, and for some drugs no substitute is available,” said Jesse Pines, MD, senior author of the study. “This means that in some cases, emergency department physicians may not have the medications they need to help people who are in serious need of them.”

More articles on emergency medicine:
A snowstorm left this ER physician skiing to work
Freestanding ER opens in Vail, Ariz.
Police shoot, kill man in Harbor-UCLA emergency room

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

When nurses help build the AI, adoption follows: Lessons from 3 health systems

Tuesday, July 28
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT

Presenters: Amy McCarthy, DNP, RNC-MNN, NE-BC, CENP, Hippocratic AIBeth Reimschissel, PhD, RN, CNL, Memorial HermannAllison Schlinkert, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Cincinnati Children'sScott Estep, MBOE, BSN, RN, CSSBB, OhioHealth System

Advertisement

Next Up in Clinical Leadership & Infection Control

Advertisement

Comments are closed.