IRVING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Vizient, Inc. announces that it has published an update to its list of essential medications which, if not available, would prove the greatest threat to hospitals’ ability to provide immediate and high-quality patient care. The update adds 13 medications bringing the total identified drugs to 225. The complete list of essential medications is here.
“The identification and recognition of these drugs as essential by our hospital members and clinical experts is another key action step Vizient takes to improve the resilience of the pharmaceutical supply chain. We will continue to update our list quarterly and share it as part of our commitment to working with our members and other stakeholders to bring a permanent end to drug shortages,” said Dan Kistner, PharmD, group senior vice president, pharmacy solutions for Vizient.
The newly added drugs are: amino acid injection, ascorbic acid injection, chromic chloride injection, clindamycin phosphate injection, doxycycline hyclate injection, lidocaine hydrochloride injection, lidocaine hydrochloride/ epinephrine bitartrate injection, manganese injection, pegaspargase injection, sodium acetate injection, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim oral, tocilizumab injection and Vitamin D analogs pharmacologic category.
To compile and update the list, Vizient’s pharmacy experts conduct a comprehensive review of the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines list, the Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support algorithms and medications included in Vizient member health systems’ critical drug lists. The medications on the Vizient list fall into one of three categories:
- Acute life-saving drugs with no alternatives (72 drugs) — used in acute and critical circumstances to sustain life and for which there are no current alternatives
- Chronic life-saving drugs with no alternatives (30 drugs) — used in chronic disease states or conditions where no alternatives are available (e.g., chemotherapy medications)
- High impact drugs (123 drugs) — alternative medications are available but may be less clinically desirable and/or are more operationally difficult to use; also reflects drugs where the absence of one medication can affect therapeutically related drugs.
Of the 219 drugs designated by Vizient as essential, over 46% are currently included in its Novaplus® private label program, including more than 50% of the identified high-impact drugs.
Additionally, Vizient has expanded its Novaplus Enhanced Supply program to include multi-dose Adrenalin® (epinephrine injection), from Par Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Endo International plc (NASDAQ: ENDP), and dexmedetomidine premix presentation from Baxter. Epinephrine is part of the acute life-saving drug category and dexmedetomidine is part of the high-impact drug category of the Essential Medications list. Epinephrine is used to treat anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest. Dexmedetomidine is used in the management of intubated and ventilated patients including those with COVID.
For medications in the Novaplus Enhanced Supply program, the contracted supplier is required to maintain additional, onshore inventory based on the historical usage of Vizient members. This program includes 19 drugs on Vizient’s essential medications list and has resulted in 39 million additional units of essential medications in the U.S. health care supply chain.
About Vizient, Inc.
Vizient, Inc. provides solutions and services that improve the delivery of high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market performance for more than 50% of the nation’s acute care providers, which includes 95% of the nation’s academic medical centers, and more than 20% of ambulatory providers. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $100 billion in annual purchasing volume, to improve patient outcomes and lower costs. Vizient has earned a World’s Most Ethical Company designation from the Ethisphere Institute every year since its inception. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.
About Vizient Novaplus and the Novaplus Enhanced Supply Program
Novaplus, a Vizient sourcing program, is the market-leading, private label program that includes a consistent supply of competitively priced medications for both inpatient and outpatient facilities. Novaplus is also a critical strategy in protecting Vizient health system and hospital members from drug shortages and the impact on resources and delivery of patient care.
Novaplus Enhanced Supply Program contracted suppliers provide additional inventory of essential products to mitigate supply disruptions and demand surge. Contract terms provide greater predictability and sustainability to drive continued production and supply resiliency. Production transparency requirements increase visibility to anticipate and further mitigate potential supply disruptions. By purchasing through Novaplus Enhanced Supply, health care facilities also receive expanded value and benefits built on the foundation of the industry’s longest-run private label program.
Contacts
Donna Ledbetter
(972) 830-6321
donna.ledbetter@vizientinc.com