Reductions In The Amount Of Medication Available Causing Harm To Patients And Proving To Be Expensive For Hospitals
The results of research that was made available through the ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) show that increased shortages in medications and drugs are having a profound adverse effect on the care of patients and are also leading to greater expenditure costs for the United States Health System. This research was undertaken by The University of Michigan Health System and was publicly made available on the internet by the American Journal of Health System Pharmacy.
In this research 353 administrators and directors of pharmacy sections in medical institutions were surveyed. This survey was done in order to obtain an accurate representation of the amount of medical resources used by these institutions and in order to enable the future management of management of pharmacy resources. Additionally this survey also sought to assess the effects of medical drug shortages have had on national health systems. It was discovered through this research that:
Labour expenses linked with the management of shortages in drugs and medications are approximately $216000000 globally.
Greater than ninety percent of the individuals that responded to the survey admitted that shortages in medications are linked with a burdensome increase in expenses when compared with statistics from two year previously.
More than 70 % of the people that responded to the survey were of the opinion that the informational resources currently available regarding the management of shortages of medications were grossly inadequate.
Henri R. Manasse Jr, PHD ScD, the ASHP executive vice president and CEO said he believes that shortages in medications and drugs are a national health crisis that must be dealt with. Manasse went on to say that what's even more troubling the reports circulating that state that pharmacists are being called away from their normal duties in order to help with the management of shortages. In a collaborated public announcement with the AHA (American Hospital Association), the ASHP plans to make available the findings of its research.
A survey of 820 hospitals by the American Health Association showed that almost all hospitals have released reports saying that they have experienced one or more drug shortages within the previous six month period. Similar reports were released by the ASHP.