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At least one corporate culprit in the opioid epidemic appears not to have learned its lesson, as CVS Pharmacies finds itself under scrutiny again. This time Ohio's Board of Pharmacy has found a litany of challenges, including understaffing that seems to be creating a chain reaction of problems.
A report by the Ohio Capital Journal says Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has deemed the findings "very concerning." In inspections that took place between 2020 and 2022, rampant turnover was found to have created severe understaffing that may have then led to "hundreds of problems, including dirty conditions, lack of controls over dangerous drugs and wait times as long as a month for prescriptions. They also found adulterated and expired drugs on CVS pharmacy shelves."
Astute readers will note the mention of lack of controls over dangerous drugs, as CVS was deemed a contributor to the substance abuse plague to the degree that it was part of a $17.3 billion settlement.
Now, according to one inspection report, a single CVS in Willoughby, Ohio, was shown to have had 1,800 doses of controlled substances that couldn't be accounted for.
"Patient safety is our highest priority, and decisions about staffing, labor hours, workflow process, technology enhancements and other operational factors are made to ensure we have appropriate levels of staffing and resources in place in our pharmacies," CVS spokesman Matthew Blanchette said.
Results of multiple reports over two years indicate otherwise. Regulators will do all in their power to ensure patients who deal with CVS are safe. CVS must do its part, as well.