Due to temporary production delays, there is a shortage of GE Healthcare contrast media. Because of this, the primary supplier of UI Hospitals & Clinics contrast media has shared that Isovue, a Bracco product, orders will be filled at 90% of customer’s average monthly order quantities. They expect this process to remain in place until the other major iodinated contrast media supplier has significant inventory back in stock. Their goal with this process is to avoid a national drug shortage for all iodinated contrast media in the U.S. and the subsequent impact on patient care.
What this means
At this time, no action is required of our faculty and staff, but our radiology and pharmacy teams are working on contrast mitigation strategies and reviewing our CT and vascular procedures protocols to decrease contrast utilization and appropriately meet our allocation. Some of the processes we are adjusting are optimizing contrast dose by patient BMI, utilizing non-contrast studies when clinically appropriate, and optimizing vials size utilization.
We will continue to work with the entire care team to serve our patients best. We value your partnership as we discuss options to best use our contrast allocation. Thank you for your efforts to overcome the current iodinated contrast shortage.