A National drug shortage hits close to home when a mobile health services company announces that it’s running out of critical medications.

Scott Matin
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MONOC Paramedics, that services Monmouth and Ocean Counties, says they’re now using substitutions for certain lifesaving medications.

MONOC Vice President Scott Matin says “some of the ones that are pretty much out through out the country are a class called Benzodiazepines. They’re the ones that stop seizures. There are also ones that aid in placing advanced airways in people that aren’t able to breath on their own.”

Matin says problem is they’re governed by the regulations of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Emergency Medical Services. He says some of those regulations require them to keep certain meds on hand to stay in compliance with those regulations. So Matin says they’re seeking a waiver from the State to remain in service even when they run out of mandatory medication.

He also says they’re lobbying for a number of options, like accessing the national and state strategic medication stockpiles. He says another is to look for pharmacies that can custom compound medications.

As of March 1st, 2012 a MONOC press release says they’ve run out of the medications Ativan and Etomidate on more than one of their Paramedics units. He says for the time being, those drugs are being replaced with Versed until that too is depleted.

 

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