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A former registered nurse at UPMC Jameson Hospital is accused of dispensing higher amounts of narcotics for patients, but using the excess for himself.
The state Office of the Attorney General has charged Chase Falba, 27, of Washington, Pa., in connection with the alleged incidents that reportedly occurred between April 6 and 11 last year. He reportedly had been suspended during the investigation.
According to a statement from UPMC, “UPMC Jameson is committed to ensure the safety of our patients. During a routine internal quality audit, UPMC Jameson officials determined irregularities in narcotics dispensing patterns connected to an employee. The employee was immediately suspended and subsequently terminated, and UPMC reported the matter to the appropriate authorities.”
According to a criminal complaint filed against Falba, an attorney general’s agent investigated a report from the hospital pharmacy director about the illegal removal of controlled substances from an Accudose dispensing machine at the hospital between those dates. It was reported that Falba, a staff nurse, was the suspect.
Falba was accused of dispensing the narcotic hydromorphone for two patients outside of what had been prescribed for them, at amounts significantly higher than what the patients were prescribed, the complaint states. The investigation showed Falba had accessed medicine cabinets multiple times in an area where he was not assigned, the report said. A review of his average daily dispenses showed he was at 18 doses per day, whereas his coworkers’ dispenses were at 3 doses per day, according to the paperwork.
According to the investigators, Falba’s records showed he had a high “waste” rate, where medication over the amount prescribed for patients was destroyed after the appropriate amount was administered to the patients.
The pharmacy director said the records showed Falba had “wasted” hydromorphone many times between the indicated dates. Hydromorphone is an opioid painkiller, often sold under the brand name of Dilaudid. The drug’s long-term use usually is only recommended for pain due to cancer, according to online reports.
The pharmacy director reported that additionally, seven vials of morphine were found with their seals broken and placed in the back in the dispenser, the complaint states.
The investigators learned that Falba had been suspended from work on April 11 last year, pending an investigation into the alleged missing drugs. A human resources consultant for UPMC spoke to Falba by phone and he admitted that he was taking the medication prescribed for the patients and using it himself, the complaint alleges.
He also admitted to the alleged theft and usage of the drug in an interview with the state attorney general agent, according to the complaint. He told investigators that he would fill the syringe with water or saline and ask a nurse to witness him throwing away what he said was the remaining drug, the paperwork states.
He also admitted to removing the vials of morphine and withdrawing the narcotic from the vials with a syringe and injecting himself, then injecting water into the morphine vials to make it look like they were full, the paperwork alleges, even though the seals had been broken. The investigator said in the complaint that Falba provided a written statement admitting to the medication theft.
Falba faces one count each of theft and possession of a controlled substance. He has been sent a summons to appear in Central Court for a preliminary hearing on the charges.