Drug shortages as an impetus to improve parenteral nutrition practices.

Purpose: A medical center's implementation of adult and pediatric parenteral nutrition (PN) algorithms and other strategies for managing PN ingredient shortages are described.

Summary: In response to nationwide shortages of amino acids and other PN ingredients in 2010, a large Massachusetts teaching hospital undertook a quality-improvement initiative to ensure appropriate patient selection for PN therapy. A clinical pharmacist was designated as a nutrition support leader with responsibility for the management of PN practices.