The State of Ohio Office of Attorney General in correspondence dated June 12, 2007 addressed to the Compliance Manager at the Ohio Board of Nursing proposed that the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit-Health Care Fraud Section of the Ohio Attorney General's Office and the Ohio Board of Nursing work together in coordinating both the administrative and criminal investigations of drug diversion cases in long-term care involving nurses. To view the memo, see the Ohio Board of Nursing website at http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/NextMeeting/M2/4.11.2Covmemo.pdf.
What does this mean for Ohio nurses working in the LTC facilities?
1. Administer and document all medications in accordance with the Ohio Nurse Practice Act, Ohio Board of Nursing regulations, and your facility policies and procedures. No exceptions.
2. If allegations related to drug diversion, inappropriate documentation of medication administration, etc. arise, consider consult with a licensure attorney immediately (before you provide a oral/written statement to your employer or a regulatory investigator, meet with investigators, etc.) so that you can make informed decisions related to the forthcoming ADMINISTRATIVE and CRIMINAL investigations.
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