Page 10 University Daily Kansan, December 8, 1980
Drugs
From page 1
"We are not terribly excited about any printing of the fact we dispense about 1.3 million doses of medicine each year," Godwin said. "You have to keep things in a perspective. We can show you that security here is pretty damn tight."
GODWIN SAID there was an average of about 1,560 doses of controlled drugs unaccounted for each year at the Med Center. Despite extremely tight security there are "discapencies" that require reports and investigations by the Med Center.
*Waste of drugs would not be considered a discrepancy if it was reported.*
"We have 48 nursing units, and we found one, our busines surgical unit averages about 70 patients a day."
"I thought the discrepancy figure would be higher than it was, but it worked on to about 0.1."
Employees, however, claim that theft occurs and is labelled as waste, and that pharmacists have been accused of stealing.
Godwin said the Med Center did everything it could to control the flow of drugs, but he conceded "we've got to have drugs, and they have to be available, but we keep them as secure as
Nurses, pharmacists and orderlies interviewed did not agree with Godwin that security measures were enforced strictly. All thought that the security measures would work, if followed, but they thought many were imprical.
THE EMPLOYEES also said that security had
lignited during the past year, but that theft and
physical damage was occurring.
"There was a nurse working in my ward who was into Demarol," said a nurse who asked not to be identified. "I had been in the hospital."
patients would not get their shots, but she would say their did."
In this instance, the nurse in question already was on probation for drug theft, the source said. The source said she would inject the Demarol into a sterile cup, break the syringe, and report it as waste. The source said the nurse probably would drink the pain killer later.
"Nobody knows the difference except the patient, who doesn't get pain relief," the nurse
T theft of drugs in large quantities is difficult because of the dispensing and inventory processes.
Controlled substances are only distributed to each of the 45 wards in the Med Center by daily supplies. Inventories of the wards' double-locked doors last for about 6 hours. Therefore, theft must be by single doses.
"There is a minimum of pilferage or theft of drugs," Godwin said. "They couldn't be any more careful."
DENYING A PATIENT medication is the regulation, the circumvent the security regulations, the nurse's role.
"How do they know if the patient receives it or not? They are the ones who suffer?" the source
The alleged thief was "spaced out" one night and was sent, by her supervisor, to the emergency room for a drug screen to check if she was under the influence.
"They refused to do it on her," the nurse said.
"That is what pisses me off. They send her back to work—she had emotional problems. They just don't want to face the problems."
Drug screens are done only with the approval of the person being screened, said Charles Hartman, a physician and chairman of the Emergency Services Program.
"They could get us for a violation of their
He also said he could not remember a request for a drug screen within the past year, but that a request that was not acted upon still would be kept in the emergency room logs.
privacy," Hartman said, if a screen was done without consent.
Hartman also is notified whenever an alcohol or drug screen is requested. Even if the request was refused, "I would know because a record is made," he said.
THE SECURITY measures described by Godwin would stop many abuses of this type, if they were conscientiously followed. However, if they were not consistently followed, basis they were often impractical requirements.
There are large amounts of paperwork to be filled out to requisition medicine or if drugs are lost or wasted. Every dose is signed out at the pharmacy and every drug drugs are distributed personally by a bannaracr.
Discrepancies in the number of controlled drugs delivered and the number used are found during inventories. If discrepancies are found, a report must be filed.
The room also contains the medication to be given to patients on that floor and a two-day course of antibiotics.
ASPIRIN, ANTIBIOTICS, some sleeping pills and other non-controlled drugs are kept on a cart that is wheeled around the floor of the ward. It has compartment for each patient's drugs.
"I suppose that a nurse or orderly could get something for a cold if they came to work with a throat or something," Godwin said. "But they couldn't get too much more."
The medicine rooms are kept locked and only
the head nurses are supposed to have a key. During the busiest time of the day the room will be left open, and the paracite boxes are locked as well. The nurse is supposedly the only person with a key.
According to Med Center employees, key access is the main breakdown in the security system.
Often, several sources said, the head nurse will leave the key to the medicine room at the desk, making it available to the other nurses on the floor by pressing the head nurse to perform other duties.
The key is supposed to be worn around the head nurse's neck, and Godwin said failure to carry the key could be grounds for immediate dismissal.
A SOURCE WHO is a head nurse said it was impractical to carry the key at all times, and it was often left in one place so all nurses could use it.
"Sure we're supposed to carry it, but many times there is just one other nurse and myself, and a couple of aides, and I just can't be running back and forth to the desk," the source said.
Godwin was upset when told of the nurses who claimed the key was usually available to most patients.
"This issue with the keys is disturbing, if it is true." Goldin said.
The only other ways to steal drugs would be in the pharmacy or pharmacist or employee, or by theft.
Both have happened, according to Godwin and other sources.
Two employees who work in the in-patient pharmacy, both said that theft occurred there often. Sleeping pills are popular, according to sources, and a prime target of drug thieves.
ACCORDING TO one employee, there is *arcarnart* cart in the pharmacy that is *an l unlocked for long periods of time*. People in the pharmacy have to wait. The cart is rarely inventoried, they said.
The cart contains drugs that are not stored at nursing units, but might be needed at any time. Godwin said the cart was replenished daily, but was not invented.
"The vault is inventoried several times a year, even though the law only requires it to inviolate."
All other drugs are stored in a locked vault. There are drawers and cabinets inside the vault, and the drugs are stored there for long periods of time. It is the only area of the hospital where there is more than a couple of days worth of drugs stored, Godwin said.
Passession of a controlled substance such as Demarol is a felony, and the penalty is severe. Prescription forgery for non-controlled drugs is also a felony for the first offender. It is a felony for a second offender.
THE TAKING of a medicine cabinet off a wall actually occurred two years ago, Godwin said. There was also an unsuccessful hodge at the inception of this cabinet this year and a successful hodge six years ago.
Goldwin said that was unusual, but the large volume of drugs handled at the Med Center.
"There are more drug rights here than in all the corner drugstore in Kansas City combined," she said. "I never get enough."
Security improved with the move to the new hospital, and modifications such as electronic door locks and door surveillance by closed circuit video have tightened pharmacy security.
"It is secure, but I still worry," Godwin said.
"It makes it hard to sleep some nights."
Lawrence's Newest Hair Care Center
The Silver Clipper
(located in the Holiday Plaza, 25th and Iowa)
"WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE?"
Silver Clipper
$4.00 off
on haircut and style with this coupon.
Expires December 30,1980
Psalms 2:1 and Acts 4:25
Hours:
842-1822
Mon.-Thura. 9-7 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. 9-5 p.m. REDKEN
Stylists:
Teresa Ledom
Mary Madl
Jack Webb
PRODUCTS
"What is the meaning of Authority? By Authority we mean an unquestionable, unconditional power. An Authority is Absolute! When we stand before it there is no possible appeal! To speak of 'relative authority' is like speaking of a 'square circle! It is a contradiction of authority from authority; it demands unqualified obedience.
"HOW FORICIBLE ARE RIGHT WORDS," said job In 8.25, Consider the Right and Foricible words in the book "A Dictionary of Words."
"From this it follows; that there can be only one authority and rule, and he Rules in sovereignty over the world and man and He rules in sovereignty over the MOST HIGH RULETH IN THE KINGDOM OF MEN, AND JESUS' SWORD OF LORD ALL—Daniel 4:17. His holy will is the law of human life."
cannot be evaded or avoided." Dr. David Hedegard.
"But the Bible also teaches that God has delegated authority to them to magistrates. When they exercise their Authority under obedience to God, they represent God Himself, and to obey them is to obey God. It would be easy to set forth authority."
"the teaching of The Bible with regard to parental and majestical authority throws light on the fact that authority is given and cannot be chosen. We do not choose our parents; we do not choose the country in which we are born. When we are born into the world, our parents, our country and its rulers are given to us and
The greatness of the civilization of England and America was produced by men and women who believed in the absolute Authority of The Bible. It appears we are now striving to preserve a Civilization without the Faith that we have abandoned us. "The Bible SHALL NOT BE ESTABLISHED." — Isaiah 7-9. At present we are "going to the devil and destruction" as a result of the "unbelief of 'of so-called believers.'" The Bible is God's Message to us, to man: "OBEY, AND BE BLESSED: DISOBEY, AND EXPERIENCE THE CURSE. The great power of the Lord will disobey those who have gone before. The curse and confusion upon us in the fruit of our forgetting God and His Message to us in all The Bible."
God Almighty Himself has commanded us to submit and obey the laws of human governments which He has ordained that there might be law and order and not confusion here below! We are permitted to disobey only in cases where we are called upon to disobey God. Our Lord is our guide, and we shall — consider Christ Jesus and His crucifixion! We are permitted to lie the consequences if we can: "When they persecute you in one city, flee to another."
What I am striving to do is to sit up men with “WATCH GOD WORK” as he reveals Himself in “every word that pumps.”
P. O. BOX 405 DECATUR, GEORGIA 30031
25th & IOWA—HOLIDAY PLAZA "NEW MILE STORE"
Mfg. List
$8.98
Kief's
$5.49
Kief's $4.59
Kief's $5.49
Mfg. List
$8.98
Mfg. List
$7.98
From CBS Records!
Mfg. List
$15.98
Kief's
$10.99
THE JACKSONS
TRIUMPH
Kief's $5.49
Mfg. List
$8,98
Weather Report Night Passage
Mfg. List
$7.98
Kief's $4.59
THE DOWNTOWN RECORD STORE
--other destinations & dates available, groups and individuals welcome.
By Staf
We Also Cater For Groups
THIS SUNDAY, MAKE IT A BUCKET OF CHICKEN FROM
--other destinations & dates available, groups and individuals welcome.
SKI WINTER
Jan. 7-12
Mar. 13-18
Mar. 18-23
Four days skiing includes: lift tickets, ski rental, lodging, and transportation, & accident insurance.
ONLY $299
PARK
Promoted by Ski etc.
Call Darryl at 841-8386
GRANADA
GOLDIE HAWN
PRIVATE ®
BENJAMIN
7:30 8:35
Mat Sat 2:00
HILL CREEK 3
Some times you watch, others you feel.
DONALD SUTHERLAND
ANDREW MOREO
Richard Pylele
Ordinand
Eve. 7:15 & 8:30, Mat. 1:24 & 1:34, Sun.
CINEMA 2
10AM & 12PM
Evenings "An
displaysion
of brilliance,
nerve and
dance."