Nursing Update
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DE LA SALLE HEALTH SCEINCES INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF NURSING AND SCHOOL OF MIDWIFERY DASMARIÑAS CITY CAVITE
NURSING UPDATE: EMERGENCY NURSING
Submitted By: Kassandra Isabel F. Nogoy BSN43
Submitted To: Mr. Roberto L. Cruz III Clinical Instructor
Emergency drug shortage not acceptable August 19, 2010 Daily Star News came this week that local emergency crews have been informed about a national shortage of some drugs they use to save lives. A week ago, the state Department of Health notified regional emergency officials that there are critical shortages of certain epinephrine and dextrose dosages in manufactured pre-loaded syringes and said several EMS agencies already have implemented alternative plans. The state also said that other medications used in pre-hospital situations, such as atropine, furosemide and naloxone, are in short supply. We don't want to panic anybody, as local emergency crews say they haven't really been seeing shortages. "It has not currently affected us _ as of yet," said Shawn Kauffman, an emergency room nurse at O'Connor Hospital in Delhi and a paramedic with the Delhi Fire District. "Currently there is no risk to the public." All well and good, but when it comes to the basic health needs of our citizens _ including our most vulnerable senior citizens _ any talk of shortages gives us pause. This is particularly true when the state informs us that this isn't anything new. In fact, the drug shortages have persisted since spring and will continue "without a clear end in sight to the problem." Lyle Jones, Otsego County's emergency services coordinator, and Steve Hood, Delaware County EMS coordinator, said they have passed the state's alert on to volunteer squads. One thing that really caught our attention is that while Oneonta ambulances are fully supplied with drugs, it would apparently take only one incidence of cardiac arrest and use of epinephrine to create a critical shortage of the drug. That's because the Oneonta Fire Department is supplied by Fox Hospital, which is on back order for epinephrine, said Brian Knapp, an advanced emergency medical technician _ critical care with the department.
"If there is a shortage of supply," Knapp said, "there is a shortage of supply." On a macro level, we suppose that there is really not that much to worry about. But what if it's your grandfather or mother or sister or uncle who's in an ambulance and an emergency worker is wondering if he should use his current supply of epinephrine or should save it for a perhaps more-serious case that may or may not come later. That's no choice any paramedic or doctor should have to make in the America of 2010. If there is not an adequate supply of the drugs needed by the gallant men and women who respond to emergencies, that's just an abomination. It is incumbent upon our senators and representatives to speak up and demand an investigation before this problem gets any worse.
Cancer patients given new hope with 'accelerated' emergency drugs fund Jul 2010 The Coalition government has accelerated plans to pay for a new emergency drugs fund, giving renewed hope to tens of thousands of cancer patients. Andrew Lansley, Health Secretary, is expected to announce on Tuesday that tens of millions of pounds will be made available six months earlier to pay for any cancer medicine recommended by a hospital doctor. Ministers have agreed to introduce the interim fund to pay for such medication, even if it has not been licensed by drugs rationing body Nice, from October.
The announcement of the £200 million fund, which had been due to come into force from April next year, comes after pressure from campaigners who questioned why it could not have been introduced immediately. Since the election, Nice has turned down or provisionally rejected ten life-prolonging drugs for various cancers.
The Conservatives had promised to establish the new emergency fund using money saved from abolishing Labour's planned National Insurance rise. Instead Mr Lansley is expected to say the interim fund will be funded from other undisclosed savings in the health budget. The announcement comes in the wake of the case of Nikki Phelps, a 37 year-old terminally mother of two-year-old twins, who was refused NHS funding for lifeprolonging drugs. It was highlighted by David Cameron during the election campaign after Mrs Phelps said she was going to sell her house to pay for the drug Sutent. She died just a week after the election. A spokesman for the Department of Health was unavailable for comment. But it is understood the announcement will be made on Tuesday.
NURSING UPDATE: EMERGENCY NURSING
Submitted By: Kassandra Isabel F. Nogoy BSN43
Submitted To: Mr. Roberto L. Cruz III Clinical Instructor
Emergency drug shortage not acceptable August 19, 2010 Daily Star News came this week that local emergency crews have been informed about a national shortage of some drugs they use to save lives. A week ago, the state Department of Health notified regional emergency officials that there are critical shortages of certain epinephrine and dextrose dosages in manufactured pre-loaded syringes and said several EMS agencies already have implemented alternative plans. The state also said that other medications used in pre-hospital situations, such as atropine, furosemide and naloxone, are in short supply. We don't want to panic anybody, as local emergency crews say they haven't really been seeing shortages. "It has not currently affected us _ as of yet," said Shawn Kauffman, an emergency room nurse at O'Connor Hospital in Delhi and a paramedic with the Delhi Fire District. "Currently there is no risk to the public." All well and good, but when it comes to the basic health needs of our citizens _ including our most vulnerable senior citizens _ any talk of shortages gives us pause. This is particularly true when the state informs us that this isn't anything new. In fact, the drug shortages have persisted since spring and will continue "without a clear end in sight to the problem." Lyle Jones, Otsego County's emergency services coordinator, and Steve Hood, Delaware County EMS coordinator, said they have passed the state's alert on to volunteer squads. One thing that really caught our attention is that while Oneonta ambulances are fully supplied with drugs, it would apparently take only one incidence of cardiac arrest and use of epinephrine to create a critical shortage of the drug. That's because the Oneonta Fire Department is supplied by Fox Hospital, which is on back order for epinephrine, said Brian Knapp, an advanced emergency medical technician _ critical care with the department.
"If there is a shortage of supply," Knapp said, "there is a shortage of supply." On a macro level, we suppose that there is really not that much to worry about. But what if it's your grandfather or mother or sister or uncle who's in an ambulance and an emergency worker is wondering if he should use his current supply of epinephrine or should save it for a perhaps more-serious case that may or may not come later. That's no choice any paramedic or doctor should have to make in the America of 2010. If there is not an adequate supply of the drugs needed by the gallant men and women who respond to emergencies, that's just an abomination. It is incumbent upon our senators and representatives to speak up and demand an investigation before this problem gets any worse.
Cancer patients given new hope with 'accelerated' emergency drugs fund Jul 2010 The Coalition government has accelerated plans to pay for a new emergency drugs fund, giving renewed hope to tens of thousands of cancer patients. Andrew Lansley, Health Secretary, is expected to announce on Tuesday that tens of millions of pounds will be made available six months earlier to pay for any cancer medicine recommended by a hospital doctor. Ministers have agreed to introduce the interim fund to pay for such medication, even if it has not been licensed by drugs rationing body Nice, from October.
The announcement of the £200 million fund, which had been due to come into force from April next year, comes after pressure from campaigners who questioned why it could not have been introduced immediately. Since the election, Nice has turned down or provisionally rejected ten life-prolonging drugs for various cancers.
The Conservatives had promised to establish the new emergency fund using money saved from abolishing Labour's planned National Insurance rise. Instead Mr Lansley is expected to say the interim fund will be funded from other undisclosed savings in the health budget. The announcement comes in the wake of the case of Nikki Phelps, a 37 year-old terminally mother of two-year-old twins, who was refused NHS funding for lifeprolonging drugs. It was highlighted by David Cameron during the election campaign after Mrs Phelps said she was going to sell her house to pay for the drug Sutent. She died just a week after the election. A spokesman for the Department of Health was unavailable for comment. But it is understood the announcement will be made on Tuesday.
