Second Victim
Those of you with experience in the area of patient safety or medication safety may be familiar with the term second victim. For those of you who may not be familiar with this term, second victims are health care professionals who are involved in an unanticipated adverse patient event, in a medical error and/or a […]
Read MoreWhat to Expect When the DEA Comes Knocking
Pharmacy is a world filled with regulations. The U.S. Department of Justice is just one agency enforcing some of those regulations, and they can show up at your pharmacy any time to confirm you are following the regulations. Here are the basics of what they are looking for. First, if they will always come with […]
Read MoreBack to More Routine Healthcare
It seems we have made it through the COVID crisis. More and more people have been vaccinated and life is starting to get back to “normal”. The new normal, anyway. Many hospitals had to put projects on hold during this time so they could devote their resources to the immediate needs. I personally know of […]
Read MoreStigma Associated with Addiction
What goes through your mind when you see someone on the street who, by all appearances, is an addict? What goes through your mind when you discover someone you know or work with is addicted to drugs or alcohol? Be honest with yourself. Do you view them as weak? Do you view yourself as superior? […]
Read MoreIncreased Diversion Risk During a Pandemic
The focus this last year in hospitals has been getting through the COVID crisis and that meant caring for the patients while keeping the staff safe. Finding ways to provide the highest level of care while minimizing the risk to those caring for them. In many cases, this meant changing the workflow to minimize exposure. […]
Read MoreReporting After Resigning
If a healthcare worker is suspected of diversion and they resign, do I still need to report to the licensing agency? The answer is a resounding yes! A resignation does not remove the obligation to report a concern. Failure to report allows the healthcare worker (HCW) to move right on to the next facility and […]
Read MoreAdmission of Diversion Activity
Licensed professionals have a lot to lose if they admit to drug diversion. There is the personal aspect of embarrassment in front of colleagues and family as well as the potential to lose their license and income producing potential. If they were diverting in response to an addiction, it requires admitting to a “weakness” and […]
Read MoreCMS Excerpt on Controlled Substance Regulations & Interpretive Guidelines
CMS State Operations Manual states in 482.25(a)(3) that current and accurate records must be kept of the receipt and disposition of all scheduled drugs. Seems pretty straight forward. It goes on to give the interpretive guidelines that again are pretty straight forward. They will look for drug accountability procedures from entry into the hospital to […]
Read MoreControlled Substances Diversion Prevention Certificate
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is offering a certificate in controlled substance diversion for technicians. I have not seen the content of the curriculum, but I do often see gaps in knowledge on the part of pharmacy staff concerning drug diversion. This certificate might be a great way to provide comprehensive education for your […]
Read MoreMedication Order Co-Signatures
Who, if anyone, at your institution is responsible for monitoring compliance when it comes to physician co-signature on verbal/telephone orders? CMS states in the State Operations Manual, that the prescribing practitioner must verify, sign, date and time the order as soon as possible after issuing the order, in accordance with hospital policy, and State and […]
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