A Surplus of Medication and Staffing Shortages in Health-System Pharmacy

Healthcare Workforce Turnover Trends

The webinar reviews industry turnover data, highlighting that healthcare has experienced approximately 20% annual turnover in recent years, increasing further during and after COVID-19. Even as rates have stabilized somewhat, turnover remains elevated at approximately 23%. 

A key insight: over a five-year period, hospitals may effectively turn over 100% of their workforce. This represents a significant loss of institutional knowledge, clinical expertise, and continuity of patient care.

Causes and Impact of Voluntary Turnover

The majority (approximately 95%) of turnover is voluntary. Employees are choosing to leave rather than being terminated. This shift underscores broader workforce dissatisfaction and competitive labor market dynamics.

The impact includes:

• Loss of experience and subject matter expertise
• Increased recruitment and onboarding costs
• Operational strain on remaining staff
• Potential risk to patient care continuity 

The discussion frames turnover not just as a staffing issue, but as a strategic leadership and patient safety concern. 

Strategies to Reduce Employee Turnover

The presenter shares organizational approaches aimed at stabilizing staffing, including:

• Evaluating industry trends and benchmarking data
• Understanding root causes behind voluntary resignations
• Implementing leadership strategies focused on engagement and retention
• Addressing workload pressures and burnout
  
  

The emphasis is on proactive leadership engagement and structured retention strategies rather than reactive hiring alone. 

Overview of Drug Shortage Trends in Healthcare 

Drug shortages are described as a long-standing issue predating COVID-19. The presenter notes that oncology has been particularly impacted, with essential chemotherapy agents experiencing supply disruptions. 

The webinar emphasizes:

• The frequency and unpredictability of shortages
• Operational complexity in managing allocation
• The clinical risk when first-line therapies are unavailable 

Drug shortages require coordinated planning across pharmacy, providers, and supply chain teams. 

Case Study: Carboplatin and Cisplatin Shortages

A focused portion of the presentation examines the recent shortages of carboplatin and cisplatin—critical oncology medications.

Key themes include:

• The rapid onset and widespread nature of the shortage
• Immediate clinical implications for cancer patients
• The need for prioritization and therapeutic substitution
• Cross-functional coordination among oncology teams

 The case illustrates how medication shortages can directly disrupt treatment protocols and require difficult clinical decisions.

Strategies to Manage and Mitigate Drug Shortages 

The organization implemented several approaches to manage the shortages:

• Close monitoring of inventory and allocation 
  
• Prioritization frameworks for patient treatment 
  
• Collaboration with clinicians on alternative regimens 
  
• Communication strategies across departments 
  
• Proactive planning rather than reactive scrambling

 The importance of structured shortage management processes is emphasized, particularly in oncology where timing and dosing are critical.

Leadership Reflections and Industry Implications 

The presenter concludes by reinforcing that both staffing and drug shortages are systemic challenges. While no single solution exists, thoughtful leadership, data awareness, and proactive strategy can mitigate impact.

Healthcare leaders must prepare for ongoing volatility in both workforce and medication supply and build resilient systems accordingly.