Certain veterinary drugs are also addictive and abusive. They are scheduled as controlled drugs and are subject to various regulations. Expert guidance and training can help stay in line with the law!
The journey of a controlled substance is a long and thorny one. Be it manufacturing, distributing, administering or dispensing, untold dangers lurk at every corner. A trusted employee, an old client or even a relative can indulge in unspeakable mischief that will come back to haunt the business forever. What’s more, even veterinary controlled substances can and do run the risk of falling into the wrong hands – like addicts or illicit traders.
Things are not as easy as keeping the controlled drugs used for animals under lock and key. The entire process of ordering, storing, dispensing and recording the said controlled substances is regulated and subject to DEA surveillance with violations leading to penalties and other disciplinary action.
The mandates cover everything from registration with the DEA to security, staff access and more. The dispensing and administering of a controlled substance becomes an exasperating headache for many veterinary clinics – every time such a drug is prescribed or administered, it has to be mandatorily logged into a medical record and a copy has to be maintained. This should specify details like:
- Date of the transaction
- Name of the patient and client
- Name of the drug
- Quantity of the substance administered or dispensed
- Exact balance at the facility
- Name of the prescribing veterinarian (if there is more than one in the practice)
- Initials of the staff member who dispensed or administered the drug
Accuracy and regularity is paramount here as any lapses can turn frustrating later. Periodic verification is essential to check whether the actual stock amount ties in with the balance reflected in the records.
Any shortage calls for an immediate and thorough internal investigation before it catches the scrutiny of the authorities. In fact, if it is not a calculation error, the loss has to be reported to the local DEA office in the prescribed manner. For theft or pilfering, the police has to be notified as well. Moreover, a system has to be in place to prevent such lapses from recurring in the future.
That’s not all either. There are many rules related to the inventory control and disposal of expired or not-needed controlled substances with procedures and documentation to be followed at every level.
In sum, running a veterinary practice is not just about caring for the health and well-being of the pet patients. It is imperative to follow the regulations when dealing with veterinary controlled substances while being on the lookout for obnoxious elements. The procedures can get very stringent and taxing at times.
The Titan Group offers a suite of services which includes reviewing the workflow and procedures, assessing the potential risks, recommending improvements in the processes, training the staff and even implementing improvements in the policies and operations so that the healthcare provider doesn’t end up in hot water by overlooking a legal requirement!
