DHSS Press Release |
Date: September 27, 2007 DHSS-102-2007 |
| Vincent P. Meconi, Secretary Jay Lynch, Communications Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 Email: jay.lynch@state.de.us |
Contact: Reporters Phone: 302-744-4907 |
DPH LONG TERM CARE PRESCRIPTION PROCEDURES TOUGHENED
Delaware's Division of Public Health has toughened prescription procedures in its long term care facilities in response to a drug diversion investigation of a former nurse at the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill (DHCI) in Smyrna. That investigation led to the arrest today of Terry L. Warfield on charges of Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Theft after partially used patient prescriptions for narcotics were allegedly found in his office after he was rushed to Kent General Hospital for a medical emergency.
On Aug. 20, DPH contacted Smyrna Police, Delaware State Police's Office of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the state Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection and the state Board of Nursing immediately after finding the missing prescriptions. Warfield did not return to work and separated from the Division on August, 30 2007.
"There is no excuse and certainly no tolerance for what this individual has done," said Dr. Jaime Rivera, DPH director. "Our patients deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and should be free from patient neglect or exploitation. As healthcare professionals we do not tolerate any patient mistreatment and when we do suspect or confirm it we take swift corrective action to eliminate any repeat occurrences."
To ensure that no other patients medications were diverted DPH is currently reviewing two years of medical resident records who received care from Mr. Warfield. Additionally, all patients involved and others in the unit were evaluated carefully by their physician after the event and no evidence was found suggesting patient harm. Families and guardians were immediately notified as were the residents.
The tighter procedures implemented Aug. 24 require a pharmacy technician to deliver Schedule II narcotics, prescribed for pain, to the nursing floors. The narcotics are recounted by two nurses at the beginning of each shift and are kept in a locked medication cart. Previously, DPH long term care nurses signed out prescriptions directly from the on-site pharmacy and transported them to the floor unsupervised.
"These invigorated controls are more thorough and provide for continuous monitoring of pharmaceutical management practices to ensure ongoing control," Dr. Rivera said. "As professionals caring for some of the state's most vulnerable, we are saddened that this staff member violated the trust of his patient, his employer, and the family. His actions are intolerable."Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
