Narcotics Missing at Harrisburg Hospital

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

In a six month period 38 doses of powerful narcotics went missing at a Harriburg hospital and the facility failed to report the losses to the state.
In a report issued last week, the state Health Department cited the 38 bed Select Specialty Hospital for violations of the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act when hospital officials failed to report the losses to the Pennsylvania Safety Reporting System.
Surveyors from the state agency reviewed hospital records and found the losses occurred between March and September.
The drugs missing included morphine, oxycodone and lorazepan. On some days, like June 29, both morphine and oxycodone went missing.
According to the report the drug losses should have been reported as infrastructure failure.
The hospital filed a plan of correction that included education of staff members on reporting requirements and monitoring and auditing measures to prevent future losses. Hospital officials did not respond to questions including whether or not the person taking the drugs was ever identified.
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