New Haven, CT—Even though the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act of 2012 appears to have reduced the overall number of new national drug shortages, medications frequently used in unscheduled acute care, such as in emergency departments, remain in short supply, according to a recent article in Health Affairs. A study team led by Yale School of Medicine researchers reviewed national drug shortages from 2001 to 2014 collected by the University of Utah’s Drug Information Service. Results indicate that shortages affecting acute care drugs became increasingly frequent and lasted longer than non–acute care drugs, with a median duration of 242 versus 173 days, respectively. Study authors suggest that the drug supply for many acutely and critically ill patients in the United States remains vulnerable despite federal efforts to remedy the situation.

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