Posted Dec 3, 2012, 8:38 pm
Lorri AllenCronkite News Service
PHOENIX – A national drug shortage is endangering patients’ health and forcing doctors, pharmacists and first responders to scramble to find supplies, according to experts who shared their stories with Cronkite News Service.
“It’s a terrible problem,” said Tom Van Hassel, vice president of theArizona State Board of Pharmacy and director of pharmacy at Yuma Regional Medical Center. “On any given day, there are 15-20 drugs we’re scrambling to find.”
Pharmacists, especially in rural Arizona, are paying more and spending more time to get drug supplies, Van Hassel said.
“These are drugs used every day in our hospital. I don’t think any hospital in the state has escaped this shortage,” he said. “When we’re out, we’re truly out. The nearest hospital is 150 miles away.”
Lorri AllenCronkite News Service
PHOENIX – A national drug shortage is endangering patients’ health and forcing doctors, pharmacists and first responders to scramble to find supplies, according to experts who shared their stories with Cronkite News Service.
“It’s a terrible problem,” said Tom Van Hassel, vice president of theArizona State Board of Pharmacy and director of pharmacy at Yuma Regional Medical Center. “On any given day, there are 15-20 drugs we’re scrambling to find.”
Pharmacists, especially in rural Arizona, are paying more and spending more time to get drug supplies, Van Hassel said.
“These are drugs used every day in our hospital. I don’t think any hospital in the state has escaped this shortage,” he said. “When we’re out, we’re truly out. The nearest hospital is 150 miles away.”
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