Drug Testing; Nail, Hair, or Urine?
There are many types of drug tests available, how do you know which one to use? Well, let’s look at the differences. Nail and hair drug testing have a long window of detection, making them an excellent way of testing for habitual drug use. The window for nail testing is 6-12 months and the window […]
Read MoreLooking for the Smoking Gun?
Every now and then when performing a diversion investigation, you will find the smoking gun. One that is so hot you don’t need the healthcare worker to admit to diversion in order to be 100% convinced they are diverting. However, 99.9% of the time, you will not find that smoking gun early on. And by […]
Read MoreEducation Surrounding a Facilities Diversion Program
An important component of a comprehensive diversion program is educating staff to the elements of the program. Education surrounding what diversion looks like, why prevention measures need to be put in place, why monitoring for diversion is important, and expectations of the staff. Additional education is needed for supervisors and managers that will be reviewing […]
Read MoreJust Culture Algorithm
Last week I gave a brief overview of the Just Culture model of accountability. I mentioned the three behaviors to consider with any error: human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless behavior. Human error is a mistake, a lapse, an inadvertent act. At-risk behavior is drifting from safe behavior when an individual does not believe the […]
Read MoreJust Culture Model of Accountability
A few years ago when I entered pharmacy management, the hospital I worked for promoted the “Just Culture” philosophy. Managers were educated on it, and we were all given a copy of the Just Culture Algorithm v3.2. I kept it close and found it to be very helpful to review prior to meeting with an […]
Read MoreProactive Recognition
I have had the privilege of working with some great people over the years. Recently, one of those people who does really great work asked me to write a recommendation for them on LinkedIn. There were some changes going on in the organization, and she was feeling a little pressure to boost things up on […]
Read MoreFinding a Director of Pharmacy
I have spent many years observing those in the role of Director of Pharmacy and several months observing those in the role of Interim Director. While a lot can be learned through observation, I learned a great deal during my time actually spent in that role. It is not an easy job, and from what […]
Read MoreWhat is Your Inner Hero
I reconnected the other day with an old friend. My husband and I shared a great meal and a wonderful visit with Alex, and one of the topics was self discovery, directed at identifying our strengths, weaknesses and inner hero. We talked about how our management style is affected by our personality type. Understanding the […]
Read MoreAccountability, Teamwork, & Patient Safety
I’m learning to navigate managing employees who are part of a union. From where I sit, I question whether the union representatives really represent their employees equally or if those who are more involved and, therefore more vocal, are allowed to maximize their position and further their agendas. It seems this way to me when […]
Read MoreWillingness and Teamwork Can Accomplish a Lot
I am currently in the role of Interim Pharmacy Director. This was a new role for me and I have found it extremely fulfilling. I believe one factor that made it fulfilling was because of how warmly I was received by the staff within and outside of the Pharmacy Department. The pharmacy staff wanted to […]
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