According to a new survey of Premier members, 88% of hospitals and health systems are building “safety stocks” of critical medications to prepare for a caseload surge of COVID-19 throughout the summer and fall.
Key Findings of the survey include:
- 51% of respondents reported building safety stocks of at least one month
- Another 25% said they were planning to stock at least a two-month supply
- The most commonly cited COVID-19 drugs for inclusion in a hospital’s safety stock were sedatives, followed by neuromuscular blockers and controlled substances.
Many hospitals and health systems are also building safety stocks for drugs used to treat COVID-19 co-morbid conditions and associated complications, such as:
- Respiratory inhalers to manage asthma (cited by 64% of respondents)
- Emergency syringes for cardiac care (53%)
- Antibiotics for secondary infections (51%)
- IV fluids to manage dehydration (49%)
Additionally, 72% of respondents say they will pay for added safety stock out of their existing pharmacy budgets, while 28% say additional funds will be allocated to manage the expense…
