Gretchen Henkel is a freelance writer in California.
Herbals another Matter
In the 2010 Health Forum/Samueli Institute survey, 82% of responding hospitals reported that they did not offer herbal supplements in their hospital pharmacies. Study author Sita Ananth surmises that most hospitals may be “playing it safe” by offering noninvasive therapies. Hospitalists are aware of the potentially dangerous interactions between herbal supplements and mainstream treatments, Dr. Reddy says.
A majority of the hospitals Ananth queried (67%) reported having existing policies regarding patients’ use of herbal and nutritional supplements during hospitalization. To avoid adverse events, “It’s really crucial that they are asking the right questions of their patients,” she says.—GH