Hospital Pharmacies Dealing With Drug Supply Depletions

Hospital pharmacies in California and around the nation are dealing with shortages of drugs, such as anesthesia, chemotherapy and heart attack medications. Officials say the reasons for the drug scarcity issue vary, including product discontinuation and recalls, manufacturing facility closures and outsourcing production lines to other countries. According to Lee Klevens -- pharmacy director at Riverside County Regional Medical Center -- public hospitals especially can be affected by drug shortages because they care for a greater number of patients who have a wider assortment of illnesses.

• "Hospital Pharmacies Scramble To Stock Scare Drugs" (Hines, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 4/10).