J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 4 7
Y
ou can reduce
the potential for
staff diversion of
opioids and
patient misuse
by following these steps to
keep your pain medication
safe and secure, from procure-
ment straight through to dis-
posal.
1. Regular audits
Make sure a manager — prefer-
ably someone who isn't
involved in buying medications
— is auditing the purchasing
records of controlled drugs.
"Regularly review the whole-
saler account and do a line item report, looking at all drugs that were
purchased and comparing them with everything that was stocked," says
Kimberly New, JD, BSN, RN, founder of Diversion Specialists, a consult-
ing firm based in Chicago, Ill. "If you don't, it's easy for a staff member
to order an extra shipment of a controlled drug and take it without you
ever knowing."
Also make sure separate staff members are in charge of purchasing,
receiving and stocking your medication supplies, suggests Ms. New.
The careful monitoring of opioid supplies must extend into patient
Joe Paone | Senior Associate Editor
Who Has Access to Your Medications?
Reduce diversion risks with these drug security and disposal solutions.
• IN GOOD HANDS Automated drug storage and dispensing cabinets
ensure staff obtain only the amount of medications needed for spe-
cific cases and keep digital records of usage.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
