Erika Matich, spokeswoman for University of Colorado Hospital, said the hospital currently only administers drug tests for probable cause. But the hospital is looking for ways to begin random drug testing.
“We are looking at how we can make that work,” Matich said. “There is no time table at implementing that yet.”
The cases Nielsen refers to are those of Kristen Parker and Mary Madill. The pair became public focal points in July after two cases of rampant theft of the painkiller Fentanyl in two area hospitals.
Parker, a scrub technician, is accused of possibly infecting 19 people with hepatitis C after injecting herself with the drug from syringes intended for patients and then refilling the needles with saline solution during her work history at Rose Medical Center and Audubon Surgery Center in Colorado Springs.
Parker’s case has resulted in the state health department in testing thousands of former surgery patients for infection of hepatitis C.
Rose Medical Center administered an employment drug test to Parker when she was hired and then a second one when there was suspicion of drug diversion going on.
Madill, a registered nurse, is accused of stealing painkilling drugs while working as a nurse at St. Anthony Central Hospital. According to Madill’s arrest affidavit, the long-time nurse was suspected of falsifying reports to account for drugs dispensed during ambulance trips.
Madill was confronted about the discrepancies and admitted to taking the drug for a long time according to the affidavit. Madill will appear in court next on Aug. 20 for a second advisement in her criminal case.
According to DORA’s records, there are 67,119 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who are registered in Colorado.
via Nurses Abuse Prescription Drugs At Higher Rate – Denver News Story – KMGH Denver.
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