How to Secure Controlled Substances in Healthcare Facilities
Hospitals face many security challenges, one of which is ensuring controlled substances are properly monitored and stored. Let’s review the legal requirements for housing medications, and how healthcare facilities can build a security strategy that’s safe and compliant.
What is a controlled substance?
The National Cancer Institute defines a controlled substance as “a drug or other substance that is tightly controlled by the government because it may be abused or cause addiction. The control applies to the way the substance is made, used, handled, stored, and distributed.”
Controlled substances include stimulants, opioids, depressants, hallucinogenics, and steroids.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies controlled substances into five schedules based on their medical purpose and potential for abuse. A schedule is essentially a category, and the more addictive and medically circumspect a drug is, the higher its schedule placement.
For example, Schedule I drugs are considered to have no current accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. They include heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and ecstasy.
Schedule II drugs are also powerful and can be highly addictive, but have medically acceptable treatment uses. Morphine, diazepam (brand name: Valium), and methylphenidate (brand name: Ritalin) are among Schedule II controlled substances.
Controlled substances used in a hospital setting or other medical facility have known medical benefits and require a prescription from a licensed medical professional.
Healthcare providers administer these powerful and potentially addictive medications to help patients deal with chronic illness or acute pain, and must adhere to tight federal and state regulations.
DEA handling requirements for controlled substances
Hospitals and healthcare facilities must register with the DEA to handle and store controlled substances. The DEA has strict requirements for medication security, outlined in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
It’s important to note that state requirements can vary, so each facility must be aware of the specific laws in their state.
DEA and state regulations lay out specific security guidelines for each category of drugs that establish standards for handling controlled substances in four areas:
- Registration and record keeping
- Storage security
- Inventory and audits
- Disposal
For storage security, healthcare facilities must ensure the physical protection of controlled substances by housing them in locked, secure areas that only authorized personnel have access to. These areas should also include alarm systems to monitor activity and send alerts in the event of a security breach or break-in.
These rules ensure that medical facilities are safe for patients and staff and protect sensitive medications from misuse.
How to reduce drug diversion
Due to their addictive nature and resale value, controlled substances are often the target of theft and illegal use.
One example is drug diversion.
Drug diversion is an illegal transfer of a controlled substance to either resell the medication or for personal use. Drug diversion deprives patients of important medication and increases the risk of substandard treatment by an impaired provider.
High-profile cases of diversion have resulted in dangerous medical scenarios for unassuming patients as well as severe fines and legal consequences for healthcare organizations for failing to meet CSA regulations.
Combating drug diversion requires putting in place clear protocols for tracking procurement and inventory, and supporting those systems with security technology that protects the physical medical storage area.
How to use access control to keep drugs safe
As mentioned above, a key aspect of storage security is controlling who can access the space and when that access can be granted.
Access control allows medical organizations to customize who can access certain rooms and when, providing exacting command over their facility’s security specifics.
Access control encompasses a range of solutions designed to enhance the efficiency, flexibility, and responsiveness of a security operation. It replaces outdated physical keys with a powerful system of electronic locks and sensors that are safer and more secure.
Only individuals who have the proper security clearance can gain entry to a medication room or other area where controlled substances are kept. Security teams can modify or adjust permissions using an app, as well monitor, record, and review all movement in and out of the medication room.
In addition to access control, healthcare facilities can secure their controlled substances by utilizing burglar alarms.
How to use burglar alarms to keep medicine safe
Healthcare organizations can add a layer of protection by utilizing a modern burglar alarm system.
These systems allow organizations to monitor their property 24/7, ensuring a consistent security presence at all times, with capabilities that include:
- State-of-the-art security technology via high-definition video cameras, digital locks, motion detectors, and cloud storage
- Live monitoring from trained professionals for fast response and support
- In-person security agents for added on-the-ground protection
- Remote system management for convenient control from anywhere
Securing your medication
Providing high-quality, trusted care to patients is a priority for every medical and healthcare facility like yours. Achieving this goal can be difficult, unless you can properly store and administer controlled substances, at all times. A proactive approach to securing medication starts with understanding your legal responsibilities and expectations, developing an awareness of the security threats you face, and building a security operation that can handle both.
