Drug Shortages Impact Hospital Safety

Prevent errors to improve hospital safety

Shortages of some injectable generic drugs have resulted in increased medical errors negatively impacting hospital safety. According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, September 2010 report:

A national survey of more than 1,800 healthcare practitioners has uncovered high levels of frustration as well as low levels of patient safety caused by recent drug shortages. Respondents described more than 1,000 errors and adverse patient outcomes during the past year related to more than 50 drugs on the shortage list that became abruptly unavailable, often without adequate notice.

According to the Wall Street Journal article, “Drug Shortages Distress Hospitals,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar plans to introduce a bill requiring companies to contact the FDA when they anticipate a supply issue. Some of the factors contributing to the shortage include the consolidation of drug companies, the expiration of patents with brand-name drugs no longer being produced, enforcement of quality standards for manufacturers to prevent drug contamination, complex manufacturing processes with long lead times, and the lengthy FDA approval process.

Drug shortages are a significant factor impacting hospital safety and therefore the safety and health of patients. Hospitals must expand their safety cultures by putting a greater emphasis on preventing errors when using substitute drugs. Part of the safety culture must include training in this area to ensure patients don’t get injured from the drugs they are hoping will help.