СŷƵ Health Network has agreed to pay $2.75 million to the federal government after an employee stole controlled substances from СŷƵ Hospital-Cedar Crest.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf announced Wednesday that LVHN was paying the settlement to resolve allegations that it failed to comply with provisions of the Controlled Substances Act that are designed to prevent controlled substances from being diverted for illegal uses. It also resolves allegations that LVHN had transferred controlled substances between inpatient and outpatient locations within the network without properly documenting it, and that the network failed to maintain accurate records about controlled substances.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on about 40 occasions, a pharmacy technician at LVH-Cedar Crest used another employee’s password to steal controlled substances and had created false reports to hide the thefts.
However, since the discovery of thefts, LVHN, part of Jefferson Health, has cooperated with the U.S. attorney and the Drug Enforcement Administration to identify potential violations and develop better practices. The U.S. Attorney’s Office added that LVHN had “expended considerable resources” to improve security, provide training, adopt diversion-detection software, and hire employees and consultants to improve CSA compliance.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to aggressively combating the opioid crisis on all fronts, including by holding hospitals and pharmacies responsible when they fail to take adequate steps to prevent controlled substances from being diverted for unlawful purposes,” said Metcalf, in a statement. “In fashioning appropriate resolutions, we also give credit to DEA registrants like LVHN who act in good faith to report potential CSA violations, prevent further deficiencies, and improve compliance efforts. While the penalties here are substantial, they may have been far greater but for LVHN’s disclosures and cooperation.”
