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9/20/19 dc impending heparin shortage
September 23, 2019

From: "David Collette" <david.collette@hhsys.org>

To: "Maggee Kyle" <maggee.kyle@hhsys.org>, "Kathryn Adcock" <kathryn.adcock@hhsys.org>, "W. Williams" <amanda.w.williams@hhsys.org>, "patrick" <patrick.newman@hhsys.org>, "Emma Strickland" <emma.strickland@hhsys.org>, "Brittney Shippee" <brittney.shippee@hhsys.org>, "patrick" <patrick.thornton@hhsys.org>, "April Williams" <april.williams@hhsys.org>, "Jonathan Spry" <jonathan.spry@hhsys.org>, "Amanda Ouzts" <amanda.ouzts@hhsys.org>, "Adam Sawyer" <adam.sawyer@hhsys.org>, "Nellie McKee" <nellie.mckee@hhsys.org>, "Jeremy Ray" <jeremy.ray@hhsys.org>, "sharon baty" <sharon.baty@hhsys.org>, "richard cramer" <richard.cramer@hhsys.org>, "gregg knowles" <gregg.knowles@hhsys.org>, "jerry robinson" <jerry.robinson@hhsys.org>, "mary dang" <mary.dang@hhsys.org>, "jonathan edwards" <jonathan.edwards@hhsys.org>, "mickala thompson" <mickala.thompson@hhsys.org>

Cc: "Kelly Hudson" <kelly.hudson@hhsys.org>, "Christopher Strickland" <christopher.strickland@hhsys.org>

Sent: Friday, September 20, 2019 2:03:03 PM

Subject: impending heparin shortage

I'm sure all of you have heard about the pig issues in Asia and our impending heparin shortage (if not, you can Google tons of articles on it!).

I need to begin getting some preliminary info on how much argatroban, bivalirudin, IIb/IIIa's, and others we may be using to make up for the heparin shortage. We can most likely use LMWH for much of our inpatients, but the other agents will obviously be required for some procedures. (Of course, these products may also go short as people move to them instead of UF porcine heparin.)

Please let me know which procedures in your area will require use of one of these immediate acting products and the approx amount of drug used for each and the approx # of patients per month/year. I know that this is a lot to ask and will require some digging, but we want to be as prepared as possible and be able to take care of as many patients as possible. We have a little time as Keith has us well-stocked on heparin, but if our wholesaler goes to zero, we will blow through it fast.

Additionally, please promote good heparin stewardship and stop all usage that is not needed.

DAVID

--

David R. Collette, Pharm.D., FASHP

Operations Manager, Professional Services Huntsville Hospital Department of Pharmacy

101 Sivley Road, Huntsville, AL 35801

Desk: (256) 265-6741; Cell: (256) 527-2560