× The federal government has shut down due to the failures of the President and Congress to continue government funding. Millions of Californians receiving benefits from state programs may be impacted. For now, California’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will continue to provide services and enroll eligible families as long as funding is available. No new federal funding to California WIC will be provided until the President and Congress take action. Families should continue to use their WIC benefits and attend their WIC appointments. This information is subject to change, so please monitor the California WIC website for updates.

Please be wary of potential highly partisan political messaging while visiting federal government websites for information related to the federal government shutdown.

Skip Navigation LinksAFL-08-14

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EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor

Health and Human Services Agency
California Department of Public Health


AFL 08-14
May 2, 2008


TO:
Acute Psychiatric Hospitals
Ambulatory Surgical Centers
Chronic Dialysis Clinics
End Stage Renal Dialysis Clinics
General Acute Care Hospitals
Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled
Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled-Habilitative
Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled-Nursing
Skilled Nursing Facilities

SUBJECT:
Heparin Recall



In recent months there have been a number of product recalls of Heparin due to reported adverse reactions in patients receiving this drug. These reactions have included acute hypotension and anaphylactic type reactions (i.e., shortness of breath, difficulty speaking or swallowing, tachycardia, syncope, rash, nausea and vomiting and abdominal distress). The source of these reactions is believed to stem from the contamination of the raw materiel used to produce the products.

The California Department of Public Health is requesting that you immediately review all of your drug storage areas, including emergency kits, dialysis units and automated drug storage cabinets to ensure that all of the recalled heparin has been removed from your facility and is no longer available for patient use. The manufacturer’s products involved in the recall are Baxter International, B. Braun, American Health packaging (AHP) and Covidien. Your supplier of these products can provide you with a list of the affected products and lot numbers or you can get them from the FDA website at www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html.

If you have questions regarding this issue, please contact Pharmaceutical Consultants Terry Rubin at (714) 939-8976 or Robert LeWinter at (714) 939-8987.

 

Sincerely,

Original Signed by Pamela Dickfoss for

Kathleen Billingsley, R.N.
Deputy Director

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