Industry data indicates that an estimated 10 percent of healthcare workers have substance use disorder and roughly 1 in 100 healthcare workers actively divert drugs, so it’s not a matter of “if,” but rather “when and where” drug diversion is occurring. In fact, 81% of healthcare leaders believe drug diversion continues to occur frequently in hospitals. Managing drug diversion is increasingly difficult due to worker shortages, multi-location compliance issues, and advanced diversion tactics. Technology can play a critical role in addressing these challenges, offering innovative solutions that enhance monitoring, reporting, and overall program effectiveness.
Discover key challenges in drug diversion prevention and how technology augments teams’ ability to run a successful drug diversion prevention program.
Multidisciplinary staffing for drug diversion programs
A widely recognized and ongoing challenge, the U.S. healthcare worker shortage is expected to reach 100,000 by 2028, from nursing to pharmacy and IT. Successful drug diversion detection programs often require the involvement of stakeholders across these care teams; as a result, health systems struggle to allocate enough full-time equivalents (FTEs) dedicated to drug diversion efforts. With healthcare professionals spread thin across many functions and departments, it can be difficult to allocate the resources necessary for drug diversion education and prevention efforts, as well as thoroughly conduct investigations within a healthcare system.
Many organizations initially have only one dedicated FTE for diversion prevention, resulting in a need for prioritization of drug diversion monitoring tasks. To affirm the need for additional FTEs, consider presenting data-driven insights to executive leadership, such as the time commitment required for drug diversion work and key performance indicators (KPIs) that illustrate the workload and staffing needs. Supported by data and hard evidence, increased personnel allow for more focused efforts on compliance and monitoring.
Integrating data sources to identify and investigate diversion incidents
Identifying and investigating suspected diversion incidents can also be cumbersome in drug diversion prevention programs, particularly when relying on manual methods. To alleviate the manual burden on the drug diversion prevention team, many organizations turn to Sentri7 Drug Diversion, which aggregates data from various sources, including automated dispensing cabinets (ADC) and electronic medical records (EMR).
The technology enables a high-level review of team members who may be at risk for diversion, streamlining the investigation process.
To stay ahead of evolving diversion methods, it’s crucial to invest in advanced tools that integrate information from multiple IT sources and are regularly updated and improved. Enhancing technological infrastructure not only eases the reporting burden on hospital staff but also ensures health systems remain agile and effective in preventing drug diversion.
Ensuring compliance and best practices across multiple locations
Compliance and consistency are critical to any successful drug diversion prevention program, particularly in large health systems with multiple locations. Each site may have unique practices, making it challenging to maintain uniformity in following protocols and ensuring best practices. However, advanced technology enables organizations to bridge these gaps and enhance compliance across facilities.
Centralize and standardize program
With tools that integrate data from multiple IT sources, organizations can ensure that all locations operate under the same guidelines for monitoring, reporting, and prevention. Aggregated data and analytics allow health systems to identify trends, flag potential compliance issues, and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Data-driven insights
By analyzing key metrics like staff adherence to protocols, potential diversion incidents, and performance benchmarks, organizations can more effectively enforce regulations and align practices across all facilities.
Streamlined processes
Automated reporting and monitoring systems reduce manual workload, minimize human error, and free up healthcare staff to focus on critical patient care tasks. Swiftly detect and investigate incidents, ensuring timely interventions and mitigating risks.
In the fight against drug diversion, technology plays an essential role in enhancing compliance and optimizing patient safety. Through a multi-pronged approach that leverages data-driven insights, streamlines reporting processes, and enhances training, organizations can build resilient drug diversion programs that address current challenges and proactively protect against future incidents.
Access a recorded webinar, From Risk to Resilience, Drug Diversion Programs in Action, for more best practices for establishing a drug diversion prevention program.
