The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a government agency responsible for the regulation and monitoring of most types of foods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics.

The FDA regulates the medical supplies that hospitals use, from tongue depressors to syringes and blood donated for transfusions. The FDA also regulates some types of medical equipment, such as the implants used in joint-replacement surgeries, and the drugs that hospitals give patients, from aspirin to chemotherapy.

Hospitals are responsible for following all of the rules set by the FDA for supplies, equipment and medications. FDA staff may visit hospitals, medical supply manufacturers, supply makers or pharmaceutical companies to investigate specific complaints.

All final FDA reports related to the most recent University of Missouri Health Care surveys, as well as University of Missouri Health Care's responses, are available to the public for review below.

March 11, 2011 FDA to MUHC