Overdoses from prescription pain killers exceed deaths involving heroin and cocaine combined but the Veterans Affairs Department’s Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Calais, Maine, dispenses them with little oversight, the VA inspector general reported today.
Following up on a whistleblower tip, the IG determined that the clinic dispensed opioids -- medications that include hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone, and morphine -- with little oversight.
The clinic performed initial pain assessments of patients, but reassessments were not consistently documented at the minimum required frequency, the IG said. The clinic did not adequately monitor patients who were prescribed opioids for misuse or diversion of the medication -- including a patient who had a positive urine test.
Evidently no one at the Calais clinic heard about VA Secretary Eric Shinseki’s impassioned plea this June that the department seriously consider whether it is part of the substance abuse problem rather than the solution.
Bob Brewin
Bob Brewin joined Government Executive in April 2007, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience as a journalist focusing on defense issues and technology. Bob covers the world of defense and information technology for Nextgov, and is the author of the “What’s Brewin” blog.
Addressing the 3 Biggest BYOD Security Threats
Research Report: Powering Continuous Monitoring Through Big Data
Mobile Apps: New Ways to Connect Government with Citizens
Continuous Monitoring As a Service: A Shift in the Way Government Does Business
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although Nextgov does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.