Windsor Regional Hospital's CEO will have to stay home for the next week or so after a trip over the border to pick up much-needed medications for a patient in the Intensive Care Unit.
The medicine in question was not available at any of the hospitals Windsor Regional's pharmacy department contacted. The closest pharmacy that had it was actually in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan.
David Musyj said he got a call on Sunday afternoon from the pharmacist who planned to make the trip herself.
"We had a blunt discussion, and I said, 'You're more valuable to the organization than I am,'" explained Musyj, who has a U.S. citizenship. "I joked with her, but seriously, I said, 'You could just call the border and find out what I need on the way back, so I don't get arrested for drug trafficking."
The trip to the university went smoothly, but on his way back, Musyj was stopped at the Canadian border and sent to secondary inspection. There, officials had some questions about whether he could enter the country with the medication.
"Made it clear that this medication has got to get to the intensive care unit. This patient needs it desperately," said Musyj.
However, the instructions he received next were unusual.
Musyj was instructed to drive slowly past the hospital, roll down his window, and pass the medication to a worker. He was not allowed to stop and was supposed to proceed directly home to quarantine.
Unfortunately, Musyj said there have been drug shortages around the world in recent years. The pandemic has exacerbated the problem, but hospitals have come up with a workaround. He said it is not uncommon for hospital officials to call colleagues in other cities to see if they have what is needed.
