Fla. State Official Inspects Stuart Fire Rescue`s New Drug Policy

Aug. 26--MARTIN COUNTY -- A state Health Department official inspected the Stuart Fire Rescue Department's new narcotics handling policies and records Tuesday, a week after a Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers investigation revealed problems with the system.

"It went well," said Kimberly Moore, a health services manager in the Health Department's Emergency Medical Services Program Investigation Section, about the inspection. She referred all other questions to the department's deputy press secretary, who did not address the questions Tuesday.

Moore arrived unannounced at Stuart Fire Rescue Headquarters shortly after 9 a.m. and conducted a thorough inspection of a city ambulance and the department's medical records, including the new narcotics handling procedures, said Fire Chief Dave Dyal. The inspection was done at least partially in response to a complaint filed in March 2013 by retired Fire Rescue Lt. John Taylor, Dyal said.

The Stuart Fire Rescue Department instituted new policies and records to track the handling of powerful narcotics Monday after Scripps newspapers published an investigation Aug. 17 that revealed the previous policies could have made it relatively easy to divert the addictive drugs. The break in the chain of custody occurred because the battalion chiefs who received leftover and expired drugs from fire-medics were not required to document they had taken control of the medications.

"I think that the questions raised pointed out some areas for improvement," Dyal said about the newspaper investigation.

The three largest fire rescue agencies on the Treasure Coast enforce strict regulations that require documenting every step in the handling of medicines the federal government considers controlled substances.

The new Stuart Fire Rescue Department policy calls for fire-medics who administer narcotics to a patient to place the used syringe into a tamper-resistant sleeve that is sealed with a security tag, city records show. The bag is turned over to a battalion chief at headquarters and both the fire-medic and supervisor record the type of drug, amount used, amount remaining and the number assigned to the emergency call on a narcotics log.

The drugs and the log are kept in a new storage safe that has a electronic key that records whenever the key is used, Dyal said. The data in the key issued to each fire-medic is downloaded to the department's computer system at least monthly so department officials know who used a key, what was opened and the time and date of the access.

Department Medical Director Lillian Avner is responsible for disposing of the leftover drugs after obtaining permission from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Dyal said. The method of disposal will be determined by Avner and the DEA.

In the case of expired narcotics, fire-medics will turn the drug vials over to a battalion chief at headquarters, city records show. The fire-medic and the battalion chief will both record the type of drug on a narcotics log in the storage safe.

The expired narcotics will be kept in the safe until they are turned over to a medicine disposal-recycling company, Dyal said. That could take up to a year.

The department will provide the fire-medics with training to ensure they understand the daily requirements and accountability involved in the handling of narcotics, Dyal said.

Moore told him she is satisfied with the way the department is handling narcotics, Dyal said. Moore's inspection found "no deficiencies," the report said.

TCPALM INVESTIGATION FINDINGS

A Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers investigation on Aug. 17 found the Stuart Fire Rescue Department is the only agency on the Treasure Coast that used the following procedures to handle narcotics. The policy has since been changed:

--Required fire-medics to turn over any unused narcotics to the fire chief or a battalion chief after the drug has been given to a patient.

--Required fire-medics to turn over expired drugs in ambulance medicine boxes to the fire chief or battalion chief.

--Did not require the fire chief or battalion chief to sign or initial a narcotics log showing when they received leftover or expired drugs.

--Did not require an inventory of the expired drugs collected in an open bin in the locked refrigerator where controlled substances are stored.

MORE COVERAGE

Martin fire chief: Narcotics tracking system would have uncovered drug theft from ambulance

Copyright 2014 - Treasure Coast Newspapers, Stuart, Fla.