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38 CO medical workers fired for drug theft in 2005
Healthcare Security Weekly, January 9, 2006
Metro-area Colorado hospitals fired 38 nurses and other medical professionals for stealing drugs meant for patients in 2005, reports the Rocky Mountain News.
Hospitals also found 76 cases of diverted drugs, which is up almost three-fold since 2001, according to the Health Facilities Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Hospitals.
Percocet, Vicodin, and methadone were among the most common drugs stolen despite improved tracking technology devices that make catching thieves much easier.
Devices such as Pyxis or AccuDose help with tracking, but in many cases the nurses or medical personnel are so addicted to the drugs, they don't care about getting caught.
The number of nurses entering the Colorado Nurses Help Program, which aids nurses with addiction problems, grew 59% in the past few years.
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