HealthcareDiversion.org Celebrates Two Years of Tracking Drug Diversion Incidents Across the Country
Nonprofit calls for new push for drug diversion prevention and detection efforts as COVID-19 pandemic wanes
ATLANTA, June 1, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- HealthcareDiversion.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preventing drug diversion in healthcare facilities, celebrates two years of building transparency and awareness around drug diversion in the U.S. Since launching in 2019, the network has tracked drug diversion incidents in all 50 states across the country and has brought together 18 healthcare executives, investigators, pharmacists, and government professionals to serve on its advisory board. HealthcareDiversion.org also recently added new functionalities to its incident database that allow visitors to filter their searches to show incidents where patients were injured or infected as a result of the drug diversion. Visitors can now share their search results with others to help spread awareness of specific types or groups of incidents.
"When we decided to launch a non-profit network with the goal of compiling all known healthcare diversion incidents, it was a daunting task. I'm thrilled with the headway we've made over the past two years and the number of organizations and experts who are supporting our mission," said Tom Knight, chairman of HealthcareDiversion.org. "However, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the progress our healthcare system has made toward drug diversion prevention and detection, and we still have a lot of work to do. Now is not the time to pump the brakes."
Understandably, many healthcare organizations had to reprioritize resources in 2020, which resulted in a temporary shift away from drug diversion prevention and programs during the pandemic. HealthcareDiversion.org seeks to provide these hospitals, health systems, pharmacies, and other healthcare facilities with the educational resources they need to refocus their efforts on drug diversion prevention and detection. Healthcare organizations can find best practices for reporting drug diversion, implementing a drug diversion program and more in the website's resource center.
"Drug diversion is an often-overlooked area when trying to prevent misuse and waste of valuable resources. Many health leaders focus on programs that ensure that drugs are used appropriately, but they aren't looking at preventing drug diversion," said Kevin Slavik, Vice President of Pharmacy Management at Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina and HealthcareDiversion.org advisory board member. "Prescription drugs, especially specialty medications, are one of the fastest growing cost components of healthcare, so it is important that we use these resources wisely. HealthcareDiversion.org is one of the only organizations that is trying to bring this issue to the forefront and provide best practices about how to best detect and prevent diversion."
To learn more about HealthcareDiversion.org, please visit https://healthcarediversion.org.
About HealthcareDiversion.org
HealthcareDiversion.org is a national network to reduce drug diversion in healthcare facilities. The network provides a platform for individuals to report instances of drug diversion, offering information to raise awareness of drug diversion and educate healthcare organizations and other stakeholders on best practices to prevent future diversion. HealthcareDiversion.org is operated by the Healthcare Diversion Network, a nonprofit association created in 2019. For more information, visit https://healthcarediversion.org.
Media Contact
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SOURCE HealthCareDiversion.org
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