February 7, 2024- Shortages within the healthcare industry have had deep impacts to the delivery of patient care, according to a recent survey of healthcare providers.
Through a survey titled “Medication, Supply, Equipment Shortages are Harming Patients,” completed in July 2023 by The Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI), and its affiliate, The Institute of Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), found that many providers believe ongoing national medication, medical supply, and medical equipment shortages have been harming patients.
Survey respondents included pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, procurement specialists, physicians, and nurses working in community, teaching, pediatric, cancer care, and other healthcare professions. Over 60% of respondents reported shortages of certain medications, supplies, and medical devices, according to ECRI. Many physicians stated that care quality has been widely and overwhelmingly impacted by the shortages.
“Many of the shortages are a direct result of supply chain disruptions. Supply chains have been disrupted due to raw material shortages, labor shortages, geopolitical issues, environmental factors, shipping and transport delays, and increased demand,” said Tim Browne, Vice President of Global Supply Chain Solutions at ECRI.
Read more in the latest issue of The Journal of Healthcare Contracting.