A federal jury in Oklahoma City found an anesthesiologist guilty on 18 counts of obtaining a controlled substance by deceit or subterfuge.

The anesthesiologist took advantage of his role to divert controlled substances, including fentanyl, ketamine, Dilaudid, and midazolam. The anesthesiologist in this case was faced with a maximum sentence of 72 years in federal prison. What steps is your facility taking to help protect patients and minimize the risk of diversion?

After an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), evidence presented at trial proved that on at least six different occasions the anesthesiologist pulled out large amounts of controlled substances by claiming the drugs were for patient surgeries. He claimed to dispose of the drugs but kept them for his own personal purposes.

The topic of properly handling controlled substances is always at the forefront of any discussion on compliance, but it extends far beyond just a paper trail. Having a compliant policy and good documentation is only the beginning of regulatory compliance, mitigating risks for patients, and liability for facilities.

In this week’s client newsletter, we discuss the most common points of diversion, the negative impact diversion can have on patients and the facility, as well as ways to help minimize the risk of diversion.

We recommend you work with an expert pharmacy consultant to ensure you stay compliant. If you are not currently working with one or are working with one that is not expert in this area, contact us and we will assess your points of weakness and put in place processes that are fully compliant.

The Consultant Pharmacists at OctariusRx provide guidance on safe medication management, survey readiness and cost savings to ambulatory healthcare facilities/surgery centers, senior care facilities and pharmacies. We also help individual patients optimize their medications to improve their quality of life and save money. Contact us for assistance.