RamaOnHealthcare May 20, 2023
Stopping Diversion in Healthcare
Introduction: Today, RamaOnHealthcare talks with David Brzozowski Sr., President and CEO of Medacist, about how data and analytics regarding drug diversion can transform the well-being of healthcare systems. He works with healthcare organizations to transform the way to identify, analyze, and prevent drug diversion.
David Brzozowski, Sr., President and CEO of Medacist
RamaOnHealthcare (ROH): What can you tell us about the work Medacist does?
David Brzozowski Sr (DB): Medacist works closely with clients to build comprehensive drug diversion programs to protect healthcare systems and most importantly, provide patients with the highest level of care possible. Powered by AI and machine learning, our SaaS (software as a solution) platform is built for healthcare leaders to complete drug diversion auditing. Medacist’s drug diversion auditing ensures accountability during the entire drug lifecycle by verifying the individual dispensing the drug, the drug dispensed (ex: opioids), and the behavior (time in/time out) of the individual administering each drug.
In today’s healthcare environment, drug diversion detection is more relevant than ever. Ongoing issues and challenges including the current nursing shortages, burn-out, COVID-19, and the opioid epidemic, require real-time solutions for hospitals and healthcare organizations to accurately track and monitor their pharmaceuticals and prescription medicines. Medacist’s drug diversion programs ensure facilities are adhering to regulatory compliance but perhaps more importantly, protect and save lives.
Ongoing issues and challenges including the current nursing shortages, burn-out, COVID-19, and the opioid epidemic, require real-time solutions….
ROH: How are you seeing drug diversion impact healthcare systems?
DB: Since its inception in 1998, our goal has been to use the best data and analytics available to put an end to instances of drug diversion. Human lives are at stake when prescription drugs are diverted from the patients they are intended for. Not only are the nurses and/or doctors consuming at risk, but those patients for whom the medications were intended also are compromised. Regulatory authorities require facilities to adhere to the best available practices for patient safety and drug security. The diversion of medications can cost healthcare facilities millions in fines, in addition to reputational damage and impaired staff. Having the ability to make informed decisions and act on instances of drug diversion from actionable data can be a competitive advantage for all healthcare organizations.
The diversion of medications can cost healthcare facilities millions in fines….
ROH: What recommendations do you have for health facilities that believe drug diversion is not a problem at their organization?
DB: Drug diversion is a reality in every healthcare system. In fact, studies in the United States have shown that about 15% of healthcare workers are reportedly abusing drugs. Unfortunately, these diverters often also know how to get their hands on different substances for a range of abuse not limited to personal consumption. Over the last year, Medacist has observed that substances including fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, and percocet are the most prominently diverted. However, the scope of abusable drugs is often wider than expected.
Drug diversion is a reality in every healthcare system… the scope of abusable drugs is often wider than expected.
Organizations can help address this problem by establishing an experienced drug diversion committee, paired with advanced analytics to provide visibility of the entire drug lifecycle. This may be challenging but is a necessary requirement to eliminate risk for facilities, their employees, patients, and public health.
Organizations can help address this problem by establishing an experienced drug diversion committee, paired with advanced analytics to provide visibility of the entire drug lifecycle.
ROH: Can you tell us a bit about how Medacist determines that the patient is receiving the proper drug, route, and dose via which employee?
DB: Through AI, pattern recognition, and predictive diversion targeting, RxAuditor Reconcile enables healthcare organizations to reconcile the entire medication lifecycle from dispense, administration, waste, or return of medication. Our sophisticated platform includes advanced filter and sort capabilities so hospitals can streamline and simplify the way they handle controlled substance transactions with precision and control.
ROH: How does it integrate into the medication dispensing/administrating process?
DB: Each hospital and pharmacy have unique needs, but also must adhere to regulatory requirements. This is why Medacist’s platforms are designed to work with all major distribution, dispensing, and administration vendors, making it easy to get the most out of drug diversion analytics by viewing and reconciling 100% of controlled substance transactions.
ROH: What data does it collect and how effective has it been in preventing diversion?
DB: Addiction does not discriminate, therefore, any clinical care area where controlled substances are dispensed is at risk for diversion activity.
Addiction does not discriminate….
Confidence and accuracy are key to addressing drug diversion head-on. The system applies over 70 levels of weighted risk-scoring metrics to curate an accurate list of individuals involved with controlled substances. Medacist’s diversion analytics collects data on the individual who dispenses and administers the drug including the time, attendance, access, and waste data concerning the type of drug dispensed (ex: opioids), including the units of measure, and the data regarding the patient receiving the medication.
From January to March this year, Medacist detected 7,498 risk incidents and 753 total case investigations. Once organizations’ diversion committees are notified regarding potential diversion, it is up to their discretion to proceed in the investigation of the concerned individual.
From January to March this year, Medacist detected 7,498 risk incidents….
ROH: Where is this in use now?
DB: Medacist’s drug diversion analytics are used by various healthcare facilities in the continental United States in addition to the Hawaiian Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam including prestigious hospitals listed in U.S. News Best Hospitals honor roll.
ROH: How do you accommodate the diverse needs of organizations across healthcare?
DB: We are committed to delivering the highest level of healthcare analytics in the industry. We provide more than sophisticated technologies. We strive to be a trusted partner who truly understands and accommodates the diverse needs and challenges specific to the organization, its staff, and its patients.
About David Brzozowski, Sr.
David Brzozowski Sr. is the CEO and Founder of Medacist Solutions Group, a leading innovator in drug diversion analytics. With over 40 years of expertise in the design, development, and implementation of large-scale applications across the insurance and healthcare sectors, Dave is proud to lead a business that specializes in protecting lives and utilizes his passion for big data analytics and healthcare information technology.