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Hospitals handle drug shortagesBy JIM ROSS © St. Petersburg Times, published January 7, 2001 Hospitals nationwide are reporting an alarming number of drug shortages, the New York Times reported last week. In Citrus County, the experience has been mixed. Joyce Brancato, chief operating officer at Seven Rivers Community Hospital, said her facility has not suffered any shortages, except for the much-publicized trouble most health providers have experienced when trying to obtain the flu vaccine. The only other problems, she said, concerned the tetanus vaccine and antivenin used to treat rattlesnake bites. Brancato said the hospital has adjusted its purchasing schedule to make certain those products are kept in stock. Citrus Memorial Hospital's pharmacy department has noticed a shortage of some drugs, including Fentanyl, a narcotic that is administered with anesthesia. "This year has been probably one of the worst in terms of shortages," said Gail King, a staff pharmacist and 26-year industry veteran. Hospitals always face shortages of some kind, industry experts said. When faced with drug shortages, hospital pharmacists make alternate arrangements to obtain the needed supplies. Doctors also can use other drugs and products. Why so much trouble nationwide this year? The New York Times story said the drug industry's consolidation has led to fewer companies making drugs or supplying raw materials. In other cases, federal regulators halted distribution of vaccines after they found problems at drugmaking factories. Also, some bigger companies have stopped making older drugs and reserved factory capacity for drugs that bring in better profits, the newspaper reported. -- Jim Ross writes about medical issues in Citrus County. Reach him at 860-7302 or by e-mail at jross@sptimes.com.
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