Abstract: In 2011, more than 260 medications were in short supply in the United States, with a significant number of those including injectable and critical medications with few alternatives. Notification of these shortages is most often incomplete and delayed, making mitigation strategies difficult for health-care providers. This session will provide a review of the most updated position of drug shortages in the United States, along with the current U.S. legislation and manufacturer efforts that are being made to attempt to alleviate the shortage. An assessment of the impact at facility, system and group purchasing organization levels will be discussed. Various mitigation strategies for critical shortages will also be offered.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to describe the severity of the drug shortage crisis to date.
2. Participants will be able to devise mitigation strategies to assist in the ongoing shortage of critical medications.
3. Participants will be able to recognize the current U.S. legislation and manufacturer efforts that are being made to attempt to alleviate the shortage.
1 contact hour: MM, E, P 0262-9999-12-020-L03-P (K)
