Drug diversion investigators and pharmacy compliance specialists Russ Nix of Wolters Kluwer, Terri Vidals of Rxpert Solutions, and Allison Onkst of Diversion Forensics led a practical discussion on interpreting drug diversion surveillance findings, distinguishing meaningful indicators from routine variation, and identifying when escalation to an investigation is appropriate.
While technology can improve workflows, identify policy gaps, and support more consistent oversight, Russ, Terri, and Allison explored how organizations can move beyond alerts by combining data insights with professional judgment to determine risk, prioritize concerns, and make informed investigative decisions.
Viewers gained relevant guidance, examples of effective practices observed across healthcare systems, and a clearer understanding of strategies for building stronger, more proactive diversion programs.
Learning objectives
- Identified patterns, behavioral indicators, and documentation concerns that may suggest potential drug diversion or opportunities for process improvement
- Described how diversion professionals evaluate the totality of circumstances when determining whether surveillance findings warrant escalation
- Explained the role of technology in strengthening diversion surveillance while recognizing the importance of expert analysis and human judgment in risk assessment
- Discussed controlled substance waste practices as a potential operational vulnerability and identified strategies to support compliance while reducing diversion risk
- Evaluated best practices that contribute to proactive diversion surveillance programs, effective investigations, and continuous program improvement.