5 ways ASCs can prevent diversion of controlled substances

Healthcare facilities can help prevent drug diversion by establishing processes for managing and auditing narcotic inventories, according to Daryl Schiller, PharmD, pharmacy services director at Montefiore Nyack (N.Y.) Hospital.

Advertisement

Five ways to detect drug diversion and ensure the safe use of controlled substances:

1. Require nurses and operating anesthesiologists to log medication inventory on a daily basis.
2. Require inventory counts of all on-hand controlled substances at least weekly.
3. Count inventory in the pharmacy vault every month.
4. Conduct audits of waste documentation.
5. Ensure all removal of controlled substances has been accounted for in the medical record.

More articles on anesthesia:
Want to build a new ASC? 6 items to consider before you start
Ohio physician was once state’s biggest prescriber of controlled substances, indictment alleges
5 must-read articles about ASCs April 12-18

Advertisement

Next Up in Anesthesia

  • The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology urged the Department of Education to reconsider its proposal to define education for certified…

  • Here are five notable ‘firsts’ in anesthesia leadership, clinical practice and education that occurred in 2025, as reported by Becker’s:…

Advertisement

Comments are closed.