Increased 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 […]
Read MorePhases of a Diversion Investigation
There are three main phases of a drug diversion investigation: Identifying the inappropriate medication use activity through an extensive audit Audit finding review by the supervisor of the healthcare worker. This is essential because the supervisor is familiar with workflow patterns and their insight is crucial into identifying possible red flags and/or explaining possible aberrant […]
Read MoreA Good Interviewer is a Good Actor
I continue to hone my knowledge and skills in the area of interviewing. I read recently that being a good interviewer is like being a good actor – you have to convince the suspect (or interviewee) that you are on their side. For some of us, that may be easier to do than others because […]
Read MorePoor Practice Can Have Patient Safety Consequences
One of my main focuses in these blog posts is drug diversion. Unfortunately, there are many hospitals out there who don’t monitor for drug diversion, whether large hospital entities or independent stand alone hospitals. If a hospital does not monitor for drug diversion, they would also not be monitoring for, by default, poor practice. When […]
Read MoreA Raw & Painful Story of Drug Addiction & Recovery
This is not my typical blog. Instead of writing my own thing today, I wanted to share a story that moved me. It’s a true story of Anita Bertrand, CRNA, MS, who got hooked on powerful painkillers and would steal them on the job. She shares her story of recovery, remission, relapse, and redemption. The […]
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