The case unfolded around 8.34am on April 15, when officers responded to a report of theft at the HEB at 6999 McPherson Road.

A loss prevention official said he opened a case March 24 at the HEB at 2314 South Zapata Highway after adjustments were made to Zolpidem 10mg from 394 to 364 pills around 8:04 a.m.

A second adjustment was made around 8:06 a.m. for the same drug from 364 to 234 pills, an arrest affidavit shows. Zolpidem is a sleeping pill.

Surveillance footage revealed that Herrera had made the adjustments. Herrera then grabbed a white green box later identified as an Ozempic injection worth approximately $865.30. Surveillance video showed Herrera allegedly taking other medications from March 3 to March 25.

Herrera took Zolpidem, testosterone, Ozempic injections and other drugs that could not be identified. The stolen drugs were worth $1,784.40, according to court documents.

What you should know:

– Hyundai Motor Group (the Group), the global mobility provider, including Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation, has partnered with a state-of-the-art pharmacy NowRx on a pilot project to explore autonomous vehicles for drug delivery

– The pilot project will test and develop automated dispatch, fleet management and other last-mile optimization technologies for same-day prescription delivery, with the possibility of testing autonomous vehicle technologies in the future .

Autonomous vehicles for drug delivery

The pilot project will serve two micro-distribution centers in the Los Angeles area that will include aspects of automated dispatch, fleet management and other last-mile optimization technologies, with an extended scope to test vehicle technologies independent in the future. Backed by the Group’s Innovation Division, NowRx plans to combine the capabilities of its proprietary “QuickFill” pharmacy management system with the Group’s smart mobility solutions. The synergies should provide a seamless healthcare experience to end consumers.

“Autonomous vehicles are part of our long-term strategic vision for NowRx to further reduce large-scale delivery costs,” said Cary Breese, CEO and co-founder of NowRx. “We can’t imagine a better company to work with than the Group, which has demonstrated substantial leadership in the autonomous vehicle, and other areas of robotics and automation.”

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) — It’s time for the drug cleanup again, sponsored by Texas Tech.

By now you probably know what that means.

It’s a chance to clean out your medicine cabinet to keep drugs from ending up on the streets and out of our water supply.

With an easy drive-thru, you can drop off medications and syringes and let the professionals dispose of them properly.

What you may NOT know is the remarkable impact this single event at Texas Tech had, far beyond its parking lot.

Dr. Charles Seifert, PharmD, is Regional Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.

He says: “This is the 77th drug cleanup, counting Amarillo, Abilene and Lubbock, that we have participated in, collecting over 35 tons of drugs and sharps.

Even the Drug Enforcement Agency took notice of this little campaign and made it a big national issue.

“April 30 is actually DEA Medication Take-Back Day nationwide,” Seifert adds. “Of course, their efforts were to avoid drug diversion, but we started doing that before they started this nationwide.”

In addition to keeping drugs off the streets, drug cleanup is an effort to prevent accidents.

Dr Seifert says, “To help prevent young children from overdosing on leftover medications that may be in an unlocked cupboard or the like. An adult dose, one or two doses, can kill a small child.

Similarly, Dr. Seifert says cleansing makes it less likely that an older person will get confused in a mix of potentially dangerous medications.

Ultimately, you have another chance on Saturday, April 30 to let professionals dispose of partially used, unwanted, or expired medications and syringes using a simple drive-in event outside Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.

According to Dr. Seifert, it’s as easy as driving up a Sonic, maybe easier.

The drug cleanup takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Health Sciences Center parking lot on 4th Street near Indiana.

Look for the signs to direct you.

*Another important note: you can cross your name off a prescription, but please leave any medication in its original container. Officials need to know what it is to sort it out before it can be destroyed.

Copyright 2022 KCBD. All rights reserved.

This article is written in dedication to those people who lost their lives to “drug overdose” because they were forced to self-medicate to manage their physical pain.

When someone we love or respect in our community dies of an overdose, we wonder how this tragedy could have happened so close to home. There are many people among us who use stronger narcotics and opioids as pain relievers. And when doctors cut them off (due to the addictive nature of these drugs), they may resort to finding them elsewhere to avoid relapsing into their intolerable pain.

Unfortunately, there is no shortage of people willing to take advantage of this need, and narcotics/opioids are common on the black market. However, these “street” drugs are often replaced or mixed with drugs such as fentanyl (a very powerful synthetic opioid).

The use of street narcotics for pain relief has become a common problem, leading to an increase in fentanyl overdoses. This drug has its place as an effective prescribed painkiller and anesthetic in hospitals, but added to other black market painkillers, it has devastating consequences.

Here is a potential scenario of how one could end up with “street” painkillers and the danger of a fentanyl overdose. If a person has inflammation (pain) in their body, they may start taking over-the-counter NSAIDs (over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, tylenol, naproxen, the advil…), but these are not meant to be taken for longer than two weeks as they have long term side effects. They can also eventually lose their effectiveness.

When over-the-counter medications stop working, one can go to the doctor to get something stronger, and may be prescribed muscle relaxants, anti-anxiety medications, stronger NSAIDs like naproxen, celecoxib, or medication steroid like cortisone or prednisone.

If or when these drugs lose their effectiveness or a stronger narcotic/opioid is needed, drugs containing codeine, tramadol, morphine, oxycontin, demerol, or fentanyl may be prescribed. These drugs are not meant for long term use as they are addictive and cause other health problems. Due to the addictive nature of opioids/narcotics, the doctor or pharmacist will most likely end up cutting off the supply of this highly effective pain reliever.

For this reason, I believe they should only be prescribed with additional support and detox options. If/when the “cut” occurs, severe withdrawal symptoms as well as severe pain can be expected. It’s common for people to search for drug options on the black market out of desperation, taking bets on what they might get (or what might be laced in street drugs).

Before anyone goes down the dangerous winding road of painkillers, please consider other options first. Certain exercises like yoga, tai chi, and specific stretches can help relieve pain, as well as physiotherapy, IMS (intramuscular stimulation), facial release, and infrared therapy. Changing our diet often makes a huge difference and if we choose foods that are botanical COX-2 inhibitors, they act like anti-inflammatory drugs, without the addictive properties or harmful side effects.

When I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, degenerative disc disease and fibromyalgia seven years ago, I started taking anti-inflammatory drugs because the doctor told me that I needed. Alternative options are often not “supported” by the medical community. After a stint on prednisone causing 30 pounds of weight gain, an ulcer, and more medication, I decided to research natural alternatives. I’m happy to say that I haven’t taken any medication for almost seven years and I’m pain free. I’ve done a lot of research on how to “eat an anti-inflammatory diet” and speak about this topic at many major health and wellness expos in the Lower Mainland. I will share my research and speaking notes with anyone suffering from pain or wishing to avoid inflammation. Please email info@elixirforlife.ca

This column was submitted to The Citizen by Claire Nielsen, health coach, author, speaker and founder of www.elixirforlife.ca.

Reports emerged this week of a veteran hospitalized in March after a prescription for heart medication disappeared from his ‘active prescription’ list.

As first reported by the Spokesperson-Review’s Orion Donovan-Smithclinical management at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Wash., called the incident “sentinel event“on examination of the file.

The problem appeared to stem, in part, from a heart failure drug that was prescribed before the October 2020 go-live of a new Cerner electronic health record system at Mann-Grandstaff.

The drug had been removed from the patient’s active medication list on the first anniversary of the writing of the prescription and had not been refilled when needed.

‘It likely contributed to his hospitalization in March 2022’ for decompensated heart failure, VA representatives said. Health Informatics News.

“Cerner continues to work closely with vendors and VA personnel to iterate on training and change management,” Cerner representatives said in response to requests for comment.

“Patient safety is a priority and reinforces the need for all providers and company personnel to take advantage of the clinical decision support tools available in the EHR,” the representatives continued.

“Cerner is working hard with VA to ensure providers at all facilities are comfortable managing prescriptions in the new system through refined training,” they added.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT

VA representatives explained to Health Informatics News that the veteran’s heart medication prescription could still be viewed in a “historic medication” area of ​​the new Cerner system.

The prescription in question was “most likely already expired” in the VA’s old EHR system, representatives said.

“In terms of actions taken, VA healthcare professionals continue to maintain the current protocol for patient prescriptions: prescriptions must expire after one year, requiring healthcare providers to track their patients’ progress,” they said. they stated. Health Informatics News.

“This is not considered a problem, but the system is working as intended to ensure proper monitoring of drug therapies. Prescriptions are not given to patients without an expiry date,” they said. Providers should reconcile all medications at each encounter to check and refill as needed, they said.

According to the VA, clinical officials at the hospital determined that the March incident met the definition of a sentinel event, as it “resulted in the potential for temporary serious harm.”

The patient in question was discharged after five days of hospitalization and is currently “confirmed that he is well”.

“Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center is aware of two cases in which a legacy medication was removed from the active medical list on the one-year anniversary of the prescription being written. Both patients are known to be fine right now,” representatives said.

“Cerner has updated its training to focus on the use case of non-Cerner written prescriptions (e.g. prescriptions written in VistA, VA legacy system and migrated to Cerner system) and how these These can be viewed in the patient’s record,” they continued. “Cerner continues to work with VA on enhancements that will provide maximum prescription visibility in these types of medication management situations.”

VA officials told members of the media at a press conference Monday that they continue to receive updates from Spokane and VA facilities in Walla Walla.

Secretary Denis R. McDonough declined to comment in detail on the case, citing patient confidentiality concerns. Asked about the potential harm to patients from EHR errors, he said: “I’m not aware of any other incidents.”

Overall, he said, “I continue to believe we have the budgetary authority we need throughout the life of this project.”

THE GREAT TREND

Medication management was one of the concerns cited by lawmakers regarding the VA’s EHR modernization initiative.

In March of this year, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., released a statement asking the VA to halt its scheduled March 26 commissioning in Walla Walla. His request followed reports released by the VA’s Office of Inspector General, one of which detailed allegations about drug management.

And earlier this month, Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., asked VA and Cerner management on Friday to implement what he called a “true” two-way interface between the EHR and its pharmacy mod.

“Pharmacists at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, Jonathan M. Wainwright VA Medical Center, and all subsequent sites will struggle with an unnecessarily complicated, time-consuming, error-prone, and double-entry process for prescribing drugs that undermine the productivity and put veterans at risk,” Rosendale said.

REGISTRATION

“We remain committed to working with VA to make things right for our veterans who deserve prompt, safe and effective care,” Cerner representatives said.

Kat Jercich is editor of Healthcare IT News.
Twitter: @kjercich
E-mail: kjercich@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.