The number of active drug shortages in the US has hit an all-time high, according to data professional group the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) released on April 11.

There are 323 drugs in shortage, beating out the previous record of 320 in 2014, according to ASHP, which tracks drug shortages in partnership with the University of Utah. The most “worrying” shortages include chemotherapy drugs, generic sterile injectable drugs, and emergency drugs found in hospital crash carts, ASHP CEO Paul Abramowitz wrote in a letter to the organization’s members.

While it’s not clear why so many drug shortages aren’t resolving, Erin Fox, associate chief pharmacy officer of shared services at the University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City, previously told Healthcare Brew the shortages are likely due to a lack of financial incentives for drug manufacturers to boost production.

Keep reading here.—MA

Do you work in healthcare or have information about the industry that we should know? Email Maia at [email protected]. For confidential conversations, ask Maia for her number on Signal.

HITRUST is quickly becoming the compliance gold standard for healthcare tech companies—but getting HITRUST-certified is no small task. Fear not, healthcare pros. Thoropass's new guide covers everything you need to know.

Why get certified in the first place? HITRUST’s robust security controls and assessment levels help organizations show their commitment to protecting health data. In a crowded and competitive marketplace, this certification can help you stand out from the crowd.

Whether you’re looking to achieve e1, i1, or r2 compliance, the guide digs into what you need to get compliant—fast. Learn about:

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Read the full guide here.

Texas and Missouri will soon have about two dozen Walmart health centers, the retail giant announced this month, adding to its 50-site roster.

The company plans to open eight clinics in the Houston metro area, 10 sites in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and four facilities in Kansas City by the end of 2024, Modern Healthcare reported.

Walmart began opening health centers in 2019 around the US in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, and Texas. Located next to Walmart Supercenters, the health centers offer primary care as well as dental and behavioral health services, among other treatments.

Keep reading here.—MA

On Fridays, we schedule our rounds with Healthcare Brew readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.

This week’s Making Rounds features Renee Gorrell, the library and information services director at the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes–Jewish College, where she helps nursing students conduct research using the St. Louis college’s online library.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Can you briefly explain what you do?

I’m the library director at the Goldfarb School of Nursing. We have a student population of around 550. Those are undergraduates, master’s degree, and doctoral students.

Our library here is 100% online—we have over 10,000 full-text scholarly journals in healthcare and over 100,000 full-text books. It’s weird; we’re almost totally virtual and online. I think some of the college administration would love to make me into a hologram, but so far, I’m still flesh and blood.

Keep reading here.—QS

Do you work in healthcare or have information about the industry that we should know? Email Quinn at [email protected]. For confidential conversations, ask Quinn for their number on Signal.

More than a Band-Aid solution. The healthcare industry comes with its own set of challenges, and it can be tricky to figure out how to tackle ’em from an HR standpoint. Paylocity’s brand-new guide explains how medical clinics and healthcare facilities can leverage modern tech to overcome five HR challenges. Get the deets.

As AI and other groundbreaking advancements reshape patient care and business operations, staying ahead is essential. Join Healthcare Brew and industry experts to dissect the latest tech solutions. From macroeconomic trends to healthcare gamification, we’ll explore the evolving landscape, balancing priorities and reimagining strategies. Register now to secure your spot at the pulse of the health industry.