The Pharmacist's Role

They can help develop and support policies regarding issues such as controlled substance handling, controlled substance loss and reporting, reserve distribution of controlled substances, drug diversion detection: prevention, identification, and reporting, and event creating and maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Additionally, the pharmacist can help ensure the organization uses the correct processes and forms to report diversion. And they can help conduct audits that include reviewing purchase records, badge access, expired narcotic reconciliation, inventory count, and discrepancies.

Hearn said, “The consultant pharmacist is a partner to the facility, and can identify gaps in policies or procedures. They can come up with viable solutions.” When these practitioners conduct their federally mandated monthly medication reviews, they can also do controlled substances audits or, at minimum, a random check to ensure documentation and processes are in place and working well. Hearn added, “When diversion happens, we can help with guidance on reporting, corrective action and follow-up. We are partners through the whole process.”

She concluded, “If a facility thinks they don’t have diversion, it is more likely that they just haven’t identified it. It’s our job to tighten processes to the best of our ability and always put the patient first.”