Virginia medical centers are adjusting hospital policies to keep tighter control on drugs in short supply — namely the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin, the painkiller morphine and the anesthetic propofol, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch report.
According to the report, VCU Medical Center now keeps hard-to-find drugs at the main pharmacy so that pharmacy directors can better track the hospital's supply. The drugs were previously kept locked at the main pharmacy and five satellite pharmacies on campus.
Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg, Va., has been forced to adapt to the use of alternative drugs, which may come in different-sized vials than traditional medications and increase the risk of a drug error. For example, providers who are used to receiving a 2-milligram vial of a medication used as a single dose may have to adapt to using 10-milligram vials.
VCU Massey Cancer Center has adopted a mantra of "delay, substitute or reduce the dose" if it can be done without compromising care, according to the report. By changing the administration schedule of some drugs, the hospital can save money.
Read more on Virginia strategies to cope with the drug shortage.
Read more on drug shortages:
-6 Strategies for Surgery Centers to Address Drug Shortages
-Sen. Blumenthal Requests GAO Investigation of Drug Shortages
-ASCA Endorses Legislation Empowering FDA to Help Prevent Drug Shortages
According to the report, VCU Medical Center now keeps hard-to-find drugs at the main pharmacy so that pharmacy directors can better track the hospital's supply. The drugs were previously kept locked at the main pharmacy and five satellite pharmacies on campus.
Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg, Va., has been forced to adapt to the use of alternative drugs, which may come in different-sized vials than traditional medications and increase the risk of a drug error. For example, providers who are used to receiving a 2-milligram vial of a medication used as a single dose may have to adapt to using 10-milligram vials.
VCU Massey Cancer Center has adopted a mantra of "delay, substitute or reduce the dose" if it can be done without compromising care, according to the report. By changing the administration schedule of some drugs, the hospital can save money.
Read more on Virginia strategies to cope with the drug shortage.
Read more on drug shortages:
-6 Strategies for Surgery Centers to Address Drug Shortages
-Sen. Blumenthal Requests GAO Investigation of Drug Shortages
-ASCA Endorses Legislation Empowering FDA to Help Prevent Drug Shortages