National Hospital and Health-System Controlled Substances Drug Diversion Prevention & Surveillance Program Assessment...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Healthcare Management
• Drug Diversion Prevention

Background:

• Drug diversion poses a significant risk in healthcare settings.
• Effective prevention and surveillance programs are crucial for patient safety and regulatory compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess current drug diversion prevention and surveillance program practices in US hospitals and health systems.
• To identify trends and consistencies in drug security and human resource management related to controlled substances.

Main Methods:

• A national survey was distributed to 1,529 chief pharmacy officers.
• The survey included 49 core questions and 39 optional questions, focusing on diversion prevention strategies.
• Data was collected between September 15 and October 4, 2021.

Main Results:

• A 12.75% response rate revealed consistent practices in drug security and HR management.
• 62% of sites have drug diversion committees; 50% adopted electronic controlled substance systems in the last 3 years.
• Most organizations dedicate 0.5-1 FTE to diversion prevention, with ongoing investigations annually.

Conclusions:

• This survey offers valuable insights into national drug diversion prevention efforts.
• There is a need for consensus on auditing controlled substance inventory and perpetual inventory processes.