woodstock woman seeks end to child abuse
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
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Some drugs in short supply Work on Area hospitals cope with national shortage of almost 120 medications
Route 14 is closer Widening could begin this summer By SHAWN SHINNEMAN sshinneman@shawmedia.com
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Pharmacy technician Ann Bolton divides a 20-gram bag of magnesium into two-gram portions Friday while working at the central pharmacy at Centegra Health System’s McHenry hospital. There has been an increase in drug shortages, especially of injectable drugs, since 2005. By EMILY K. COLEMAN ecoleman@shawmedia.com As the national drug shortage continues, area hospitals are keeping a close eye on what they need and what’s available. Almost 120 drugs are in short supply, according to the Food and Drug Administration. They include cancer drugs, anesthetics and electrolytes for patients on IV feeding. “They’re not the exotic medications that are in the market,” said Centegra Health System’s director of pharmacy, Scott Padjen. “They’re the standard, com-
mon medications that most patients require when they come into the hospital.” To make sure the hospitals have what they need, pharmacy staff have to “micromanage” the purchasing process more than they’ve needed to in past years, said Lanndon Rose, the director of ambulatory care and pharmacy services at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington. Centegra Health System has hired extra technicians just to handle keeping up with the
about the shortage In 2011, 251 drug shortages were reported to the Food and Drug Administration, up from 178 drug shortages in 2010. A major reason is quality and manufacturing issues, according to the FDA. It also pointed to delays in receiving raw materials and components from suppliers. Many of the drugs affected are sterile injectable drugs because any hiccup in the supply can cause a problem. Fewer firms make them and the complex manufacturing process makes increasing production difficult, according to the FDA. To see a list of affected drugs, search for “drug shortages” at fda.gov.
Voice your opinion Have your prescriptions been affected by a medicine shortage? Vote online at NWHerald.com.
See DRUG SUPPLY, page A10
WOODSTOCK – Construction to widen Route 14 between Crystal Lake and Woodstock could begin this summer, about a year after the Illinois Department of Transportation had originally planned to break ground. Construction will widen the congested, two-lane stretch of highway from Lucas Road, near McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, to West Lake Shore Drive in Woodstock, where the highway currently breaks to four lanes. When completed, the highway will have five lanes – two each way, plus a median that will open to a turn lane when necessary. The project will take an estimated year and a half to complete, although much of the time frame depends on weather conditions, Woodstock City Engineer Al Wilson said. In addition to clearing up traffic congestion, city officials are optimistic that the project will equate to economic development down the road. “It basically helps the traffic flow into and out of town, and with that, hopefully it will spur some development along that section of roadway improvement,” Wilson said.
“It basically helps the traffic flow into and out of town, and with that, hopefully it will spur some development along that section of roadway improvement.” al wilson Woodstock city engineer
See ROUTE 14, page A10
Executive power no longer on ‘pause’ Obama administration takes active role to start 2nd term By CALVIN WOODWARD and RICHARD LARDNER The Associated Press
WASHINGTON – This is what “Forward” looks like. Fast forward, even. President Barack Obama’s campaign slogan is springing to life in a surge of executive directives and agency rule-making
that touch many of the affairs of government. They are shaping the cost and quality of health plans, the contents of the school cafeteria, the front lines of future combat, the price of coal. They are the leading edge of Obama’s ambition to take on climate change in ways that may be unachievable in legislation. Altogether, it’s a kinetic
looking forward
switch from what could have been the watchword of the Obama administration in the closing, politically hypersensitive months of his first term: pause. Whatever the merits of any particular commandment from the president or his agencies, the perception of a government expanding its reach and hitting business with job-killing man-
dates was sure to set off fireworks before November. Since Obama’s re-election, regulations giving force and detail to his health care law have gushed out by the hundreds of pages. To some extent this was inevitable: The law is far-reaching and its most consequential deadlines are fast approaching. The rules are much more than fine print, however, and they
See OBAMA, page A9
SatUrdaY
RESCHEDULED CHILI OPEN HITS ICE The Chili Open Golf Classic will be at 8 a.m. at Main Beach, 300 Lake Shore Drive, Crystal Lake. Golfers will play a championship, nine-hole, par-32 course on the frozen lake. Each foursome receives a giveaway, chili and a chance to win prizes. Cost is $115 per foursome. The event was postponed from Feb. 2. Sign up at 1 East Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake, or at crystallakeparks.org.
thUrSdaY: ‘A Good Day to Die Hard,’ starring Bruce Willis, opens in theaters.
Bruce Willis (left), Jai Courtney 20th Century Fox photo
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President Barack Obama, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, talks Jan. 16 at the White House about proposals to reduce gun violence.
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