This webcast discusses chain of custody, drug diversion, and best practices
>> Click to listen now to this webcast interview
Where is your ambulance service most at risk with drug diversion (theft of a controlled narcotics)?
What is your procedure if drugs go missing or the inventory count is off?
Are you routinely checking to make sure box packaging and drug containers haven't been tampered with?
What is the most common weakest link in any drug control program? (hint: unwitnessed wasting)
What is best for inventory management and security - a snap lock or zip tie lock? (Hint: one lock failed and the other didn't in deterring drug diversion.)
Did you know a DEA registration number is required for each physical location where controlled narcotics are stored? A two station system requires two different DEA numbers.
While an ambulance service should trust its employees, sometimes the temptation for an employee to steal is too great! Employee theft is one thing, but diverting controlled narcotics is another that raises the severity of the crime. According to the DEA, theft of controlled narcotics most often happens when an employee suffers an injury and is taken off the prescribed pain medicine when under the care of a physician. Unfortunately, when it comes to drug diversion, it's not a matter of if something will happen, but when. Thinking about this is the kind of stuff that gives an ambulance director sleepless nights.
We answered all the questions that led into this post and many others too during our live broadcast of Wisconsin EMS Live regarding EMS controlled narcotics, system management and drug diversion on Tuesday, June 9. The program was recorded.
Our guests included Drug Enforcement Agency Wisconsin Supervisor Kathy Federico, Wisconsin Ambulance Inspector Paul Schilling, and Baraboo District Ambulance Chief Dana Sechler and Deputy Chief John Rago.
Listen as Dana and John share their recent event catching an employee diverting drugs, and what they did and learned from this experience.
Recommendations from the live show:
>> Click to review Wisconsin EMS Controlled Substance Management Procedure.
>> Click for a source recommended by Baraboo District Ambulance to purchase biometric safe locks.
Most importantly, test your controlled narcotics procedures and system. With all good intentions, and what maybe surprising results, throw inventory counts off, visibly tamper and reseal box packaging, open inventory tags - even ask employees to sign as a "witness" to an unwitnessed wasting of narcs. It's all for the better of your system and minimizing risk. Find ways to test your system and manage the weakest link - where are you most vulnerable?
In part two of the interview meet Eric Salzwedel with REACH-A-Child. He’s developed a storybook collection, called the REACH BAG, to help kids caught up in an emergency event or incident – and provide them with some comfort or a short distraction.
Show co-hosts included Joe Covelli, Patrick Ryan and Dan Williams. The full episode is 60 minutes. >> Click to listen now to this webcast interview.
Don’t miss a beat of the action – listen to Wisconsin EMS Live. Also, check the archive for all past show episodes.
