Yesterday the world's population meter turned another notch revealing an almost unfathomable 7 Billion people now inhabit the face of the earth. Yes that Billion with a capital "B" mind you. As I think about it, in my five decades of a lifetime the population has increased three fold and more. Not to mention the emergence of the fast rising economies of India, Brazil, and the behemoth China which tops the people meter with a staggering 1.3 Billion! Yet with all this talk about this milestone, their are viewpoints which cite that actually the human reproduction rate is slowing in many places such as Japan, Arab Emirates and Europe. With all that understood, its still vitally important that each of us make firm decisions on how our personal "foot prints" will impact the world's resources in lieu of urbanisation and the growth of "mega cities." If you haven't thought about it and your place in it, then maybe you should read on to have a light bulb moment....
Drugs Supply A-Go-G0
Reports from the American Hospital Association and the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists underscore a nationwide chronic shortage of some of the most commonly used drugs in hospitals. More than 800 member hospitals reported drug shortages.
Last year, of the approximately 3,000 prescription drugs used at Holy Spirit Hospital, there were shortages of 211. In 2006, that list numbered 70 drugs.
“No patients at Holy Spirit have been denied needed therapy, but we’ve had to do a lot of work to make that happen,” said Charles Arrison, director of pharmacy at the East Pennsboro Township hospital. Pharmacists for PinnacleHealth System said they were monitoring about 60 drugs. Drugs affected by shortages represent a myriad of classes, such as those used in cancer treatment, cardiac care, anesthesia and pain management. Even drugs used to treat critically sick patients — to manage high blood pressure or heart rate — appear on critical shortage lists.
The Food and Drug Administration last year reported shortages for 178 drugs, the majority older, sterile injectable drugs. Some independent university researchers tallied in excess of 200 drugs.
Factors contributing to shortages ranged from problems procuring raw materials to issues at the manufacturing, distribution and regulatory levels. Hospitals have little recourse but to turn to substitute or alternative drugs.
Pinnacle, for example, routinely will use different size vials of the same drug or buy a different concentration. At times it simply buys from a different manufacturer. “We’ve come very close to running out, but somehow we’ve always managed to scrape by utilizing other medication, and our medical staff has been unbelievable,” said Susan Wagner, Pinnacle pharmacy supervisor. “To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think we’ve ever compromised patient care.” Drug rationing of sorts is another option.
Hospitals will use a drug in short supply for a patient who can’t tolerate the alternative drug. On rare occasions, the hospital has had to delay therapy for a week or two. “That’s the triage process that occurs,” Parry said.
The death of nine patients as a result of a contaminated substitute drug at an Alabama hospital this year underscores the risks involved in the last-minute scramble to find drug substitutes.
To minimize the chance of errors in the lab or at the patient’s bedside, pharmacy staff say they strive to supply substitute agents similar in packaging, consistency and dosage to the affected drug.
“If you’re used to buying 2 mls of a certain drug and now the only thing available is 1 ml, you need to make everybody involved aware of that fact,” Rarick said.
That’s especially critical when it comes to the so-called “crash- cart” emergency drugs.
“That is not the time — in the middle of a code or cardiac arrest — for somebody to be looking at something new for the first time,” Rarick said.
Crash-cart drugs, such as epinephrine, which is used during cardiac arrest, have been particularly hard hit by shortages.
Drugs affected by shortages represent a myriad of classes, such as those used in cancer treatment, cardiac care, anesthesia and pain management. Even drugs used to treat critically sick patients — to manage high blood pressure or heart rate — appear on critical shortage lists.
(www.pennlive.com/midstate)
Commentary from You Tube: Food, Funds and Fundementals
Drugs Supply A-Go-G0
Reports from the American Hospital Association and the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists underscore a nationwide chronic shortage of some of the most commonly used drugs in hospitals. More than 800 member hospitals reported drug shortages.
Last year, of the approximately 3,000 prescription drugs used at Holy Spirit Hospital, there were shortages of 211. In 2006, that list numbered 70 drugs.
“No patients at Holy Spirit have been denied needed therapy, but we’ve had to do a lot of work to make that happen,” said Charles Arrison, director of pharmacy at the East Pennsboro Township hospital. Pharmacists for PinnacleHealth System said they were monitoring about 60 drugs. Drugs affected by shortages represent a myriad of classes, such as those used in cancer treatment, cardiac care, anesthesia and pain management. Even drugs used to treat critically sick patients — to manage high blood pressure or heart rate — appear on critical shortage lists. The Food and Drug Administration last year reported shortages for 178 drugs, the majority older, sterile injectable drugs. Some independent university researchers tallied in excess of 200 drugs.
Factors contributing to shortages ranged from problems procuring raw materials to issues at the manufacturing, distribution and regulatory levels. Hospitals have little recourse but to turn to substitute or alternative drugs.
Pinnacle, for example, routinely will use different size vials of the same drug or buy a different concentration. At times it simply buys from a different manufacturer. “We’ve come very close to running out, but somehow we’ve always managed to scrape by utilizing other medication, and our medical staff has been unbelievable,” said Susan Wagner, Pinnacle pharmacy supervisor. “To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think we’ve ever compromised patient care.” Drug rationing of sorts is another option.
Hospitals will use a drug in short supply for a patient who can’t tolerate the alternative drug. On rare occasions, the hospital has had to delay therapy for a week or two. “That’s the triage process that occurs,” Parry said.
The death of nine patients as a result of a contaminated substitute drug at an Alabama hospital this year underscores the risks involved in the last-minute scramble to find drug substitutes.
To minimize the chance of errors in the lab or at the patient’s bedside, pharmacy staff say they strive to supply substitute agents similar in packaging, consistency and dosage to the affected drug.
“If you’re used to buying 2 mls of a certain drug and now the only thing available is 1 ml, you need to make everybody involved aware of that fact,” Rarick said.
That’s especially critical when it comes to the so-called “crash- cart” emergency drugs.
“That is not the time — in the middle of a code or cardiac arrest — for somebody to be looking at something new for the first time,” Rarick said.
Crash-cart drugs, such as epinephrine, which is used during cardiac arrest, have been particularly hard hit by shortages.
Drugs affected by shortages represent a myriad of classes, such as those used in cancer treatment, cardiac care, anesthesia and pain management. Even drugs used to treat critically sick patients — to manage high blood pressure or heart rate — appear on critical shortage lists.
(www.pennlive.com/midstate)
Commentary from You Tube: Food, Funds and Fundementals
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