Descriptive analysis of the legal ramifications of medication diversion by pharmacy employees.

BACKGROUND: Medication diversion, the act of illegally redirecting prescription drugs from their intended path, is a growing problem in the United States, with significant implications for patient safety and the integrity of the health care system. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to link reported diversion cases from state boards of pharmacy to state court docket records to describe the legal ramifications of medication diversion. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of state board of pharmacy records and state court docket records from six states between 2016 and 2021 was completed. RESULTS: A total of 207 medication diversion cases were identified and 61 of these cases were able to be linked to state court cases. The study found that pharmacy technicians were involved in the majority of cases (77.3%). The study found that medication diversion frequently occurred in community pharmacies (59.2%), involving controlled medications (87.4%). The primary reasons for medication diversion were personal use (43.7%) and undetermined motives (48.5%). Of the 61 cases linked to court cases, prevalent disciplinary actions included "misdemeanor or felony charges" (21.4%) and "jail time, suspended" (9.2%). The findings underscore the need for robust systems and protocols within health care facilities to prevent medication diversion, particularly in pharmacy settings. Measures such as implementing physical and electronic controls, addressing flaws in operations, and conducting thorough background checks during the hiring process are crucial for minimizing the risk of diversion. Furthermore, the study reveals inconsistencies in the disciplinary actions taken by state boards of pharmacy and state legal systems, indicating the need for more standardized and consistent processes for prosecuting medication diversion cases. Future research should aim to include a broader sample size and develop standardized data collection methods to further explore medication diversion and its legal implications. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, addressing medication diversion requires a collaborative effort between health care facilities and regulatory bodies. By prioritizing prevention strategies and aligning disciplinary actions, the health care system can ensure patient safety, uphold professional integrity, and effectively combat medication diversion.

The Impact of Motivational Interviewing and MOTIVE Tool Use by Pharmacists on Vaccine Acceptance.

Vaccines have played a significant role in reducing infectious disease burden. However, vaccine hesitancy remains a persistent challenge in public health, including for pharmacists who often interact with patients regarding vaccines. Thus, this study assesses the impact of motivational interviewing (MI) training and the MI-based vaccine hesitancy discussion tools (MOTIVE) on pharmacists' management of vaccine hesitancy. Pharmacists in eight Midwestern pharmacy practices who completed MI and MOTIVE training and engaged with vaccine-hesitant patients participated in this study. The pharmacist participants completed post-encounter surveys identifying the vaccine discussed, the tool utilized, and the outcome of the conversation. Descriptive results from 362 encounters indicated that the primary reasons for hesitancy were safety (39%), care coordination (31.5%), and efficacy (30.4%). Post encounter, 35.4% of patients received vaccines, 26% planned to, 25.1% considered it, and 13.5% were uninterested. The findings highlight the importance of patient-centered communication, such as MI, between patients and pharmacists to identify and address reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Pharmacists, equipped with conversation tools such as the MOTIVE tools, may effectively influence vaccine acceptance. Future research should evaluate the utility of MI and the MOTIVE tools in other settings and regions.