What Does the Institute for Safe Medication Practices’ Survey Tell Us About the Impact of Shortages on Patient Safety?

The continuing crisis with drug shortages and supply chain disruptions results in ongoing patient safety and financial concerns. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and ECRI conducted a survey from June 29, 2023, to July 27, 2023, inviting practitioners to share their experiences with drug, supply, and equipment shortages during the previous 6 months. Practitioners provided insight about drug, single-use supplies (e.g., tubing, syringes, cassettes), and durable medical equipment (e.g., infusion devices) shortages. Almost half (44%) of the survey respondents reported shortages impacting hematology and oncology medications. These shortages resulted in interrupted, modified, or delayed chemotherapy regimens (e.g., reduced doses, treatment withheld if noncurative intent) and significantly impacted health care organizations’ clinical and operational resources, increased the risk for medication errors, and negatively affected the quality of patient care.