AUSTIN, Texas —
The national prescription drug shortage is having impacts on hospitals across Central Texas. KVUE reached out to some local medical centers to see how they are handling it.
There are more than 320 medications on the list for shortages. University of Texas College of Pharmacy professor Dr. Ashley Garling said many of them are recognizable.
Fluids used in IV bags next to hospital beds are part of the shortage, which Garling said is concerning because they are used for nearly every patient who enters a hospital.
Another medication on the list is fentanyl, which is a strong pain medication used for surgeries. It can be deadly in the streets, but is a helpful tool when used properly in hospitals.
Garling also said there is a shortage of certain chemotherapy agents.
She said most hospitals have put plans in place to deal with the shortages, but if you have a procedure coming up and are concerned, don't be afraid to ask questions.
"When can it occur? When should it occur? Sometimes, you need those faster than other times. And then also, it's not a bad idea to ask about drug shortages. Are they going to use alternative medicines if their primary medicines are not available?" Garling said.
Garling said since this issues have been ongoing for a while now, most medical facilities have a drug shortage policy in place or are currently working on getting one.
A statement from Baylor Scott & White Health said:
"We are aware of shortages, and we continue to monitor the situation, working closely with vendors and distributors.
Across our organization, multidisciplinary teams work to make sure we have adequate supplies to care for patients."
Below is a statement from Dr. Kenneth Mitchell, the Chief Medical Officer at St. David’s HealthCare, and Jenny Burnette, the vice president of Pharmacy Services at St. David’s HealthCare:
“The health and safety of our patients continues to be our highest priority, and we continue to implement strategies to ensure all our patients are receiving medications safely and efficiently.
As has been widely reported, the nationwide drug shortage has ebbed and flowed over the past decade. Healthcare providers have become accustomed to managing drug shortages in a variety of ways, including obtaining drugs from different sources or using similar products from another class—with physician approval. There are a myriad of reasons for drug shortages, including hurricanes in the Caribbean, increased generic medications indirectly leading manufacturers to halt production, and quality issues in manufacturing facilities.
St. David’s HealthCare has developed a strong network with our key stakeholders to monitor the drug supply chain issues and procure critical medications, such as hormones and chemotherapy, as needed for our patients. Additionally, HCA Healthcare, our national partner, has tremendous resources with 186 hospitals nationwide, which gives us access to scale and an advantage over many hospitals.”
Garling said pharmacists and other medical professionals try their best to make sure patients get what they need, whether that's a substitute, a lesser dose or an older medication.
"We really do advocate for the patients. Pharmacists don't get paid any more or any less, depending on what medicine the person gets. So, it's in our best interests to, you know, advocate for the patient, get them the best thing we possibly can that's available," she said.
KVUE also reached out to representatives with Ascension hospitals. They said they would look into the request, but have not yet provided any additional information.