Medication shortages are harming patients, survey finds

Ongoing national medication, medical supply and medical equipment shortages are harming patients, according to a survey released by patient safety organization ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Half of respondents said the shortages have delayed treatments, and one-third said they were unable to provide patients with optimally recommended drugs or treatments. Sixty percent of respondents reported shortages of more than 20 drugs, single-use supplies or other medical devices during the previous six months. They said care quality has been affected in surgery and anesthetics (74%), emergency care (64%), cardiology (45%), hematology and oncology (44%) and infectious diseases (39%). The nearly 200 respondents to the July 2023 survey included nurses, physicians, procurement specialists, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working in hospitals. (ECRI news release, 10/13/23)