Dearborn Pharmacy: How Can Your Pharmacy Prepare for and Stay Ahead of Drug Shortages

For the past year, Dearborn Pharmacy has been a witness to more common and longer drug shortages. Although there are disagreements about the causes of shortages, most healthcare professionals agree that it is unacceptable, especially because it puts patients at risk. Dearborn Pharmacy knows very well that maintaining a high standard of care when facing drug shortages is difficult for pharmacies of all sorts. It compromises treatment and can lead to errors and unsafe practices. Continue reading to find out about ways to make sure your pharmacy would not be caught off guard by drug shortages.

Regularly evaluate your inventory

Make sure that you regularly check your inventory and estimate how long your supply will last based on your pharmacy’s history of drug usage.

Communicate with your patients

Here in Dearborn Pharmacy, we see to it that we discuss drug shortages with our patients who are taking the affected medications. We explain to them the reasons for the shortage and how long it is expected to last. Talk to your patients about possible alternatives that they may take for the meanwhile and the details such as dosage, administration, and storage.

Assess the shortage’s effects on your pharmacy

Carefully look at how drug shortages might affect your pharmacy operations and your patients as well. Determine what problems you might face with the use of alternative drugs and what operational changes you need to make in case of a drug shortage.

Do not hoard drugs

Do not ever try to stockpile an excessive inventory of drugs because this may lead to shortages in other places which put other patients at risk.

Promptly look for alternatives

You should be quick to identify alternatives for drugs in short supply. Information about possible alternatives may be found in sources such as listservs, medical literature, other pharmacies, physicians, professional, websites, and medical centers within your area.