Topic of Choice 2023

Medication shortages frequently cause disruptions to healthcare delivery in the United States when preferred agents are not available. These shortages can occur due to many reasons, including manufacturing issues, supply chain difficulties, medication discontinuations, monetary or other business decisions, and even natural disasters. While medication shortages can be defined in different ways by various institutions, it is clear that they have been increasing in frequency over the past couple decades. One of the biggest issues with this is the lack of advanced warning systems to alert providers of an impending shortage. Manufacturers are only required to give advanced notice to the FDA if they plan to discontinue a single-source, medically necessary drugs, and a significant amount of leeway is given to the manufacturers in making these decisions. As a result, the vast majority of reporting is voluntary. According to the ASHP/UUCP drug shortage program, as of 2011, manufacturing pro...

 

     One of the problems that affects the United States healthcare landscape is the status of its quality. Preventable medical errors are a leading cause of death in the U.S., which is surprising given the amount of money that the U.S. funnels into healthcare. 1  Medical errors also contribute to the growing cost of healthcare, further exacerbating the financial burden placed on health systems and patients alike. An aspect of medical errors that isn’t always considered is the way in which medical errors affect healthcare providers. Apparently, many providers experience anger, guilt, inadequacy, depression, or even suicidal ideology when they think or they know that they have committed an error. 1   These feelings may be increased by the threat of legal action or malpractice suits against them. Although it is important to acknowledge and rectify medical errors that are made, it is also important to recognize that healthcare providers are humans and that human err...