- A CVS store in Canton, Ohio has been fined $250,000 for multiple violations, including severe understaffing, prescription delays, and improper storage of medication.
- Inspectors found malfunctioning phones, a broken AC unit, and medications, including a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, stored on the floor.
- The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy imposed the fine and mandated the store to maintain sufficient staffing levels and timely prescription filling. CVS has since made improvements and is committed to providing high-quality care to patients.
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- CVS is hit with a $250,000 fine for understaffing a store so badly that it was a month behind on filling prescriptions (businessinsider.com)
A CVS store in Canton, Ohio has been fined $250,000 by state regulators for multiple violations. The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy conducted an investigation and found that the store was severely understaffed, resulting in prescription delays and haphazard storage of medicine. Inspectors also discovered that phones were not functioning properly and the AC unit was broken. Medications, including a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, were even stored on the floor. The store’s violations of proper drug storage and dispensing standards led to the hefty fine.
The inspection took place in September 2021 when inspectors from the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy visited the CVS store in Canton. They found numerous issues, including malfunctioning phones and a broken AC unit. The store was also severely understaffed.
According to the Board’s letter to the store and CVS management, medications were stored in an unsanitary manner, with some placed on the floor near the pharmacist workstation. In addition, a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was found in an unlocked freezer, raising concerns about proper storage protocols.
The store was also found to have a backlog of prescriptions on its dispensing software, indicating further problems with timely filling of prescriptions. Inspectors spoke to staff members who requested temporary closure of the store and additional staffing to catch up on prescriptions, but their requests were denied by district leaders.
During the inspection, the store had closed its lobby and was only serving customers through the drive-thru due to understaffing. The Board noted that approximately 10 cars were in the drive-thru line at the time. In a subsequent conversation with a pharmacist at the store, the Board learned that the prescription backlog had worsened, with the pharmacy being over a month behind in filling prescriptions.
As a consequence of these violations, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy imposed a $250,000 monetary penalty on the store. The Board also mandated that the store maintain sufficient staffing levels to ensure pharmacists’ ability to practice safely and efficiently. New and refill prescriptions are required to be ready for patient pick-up within three business days, with any delays beyond this timeframe being reported to the Board.
In response to the allegations, a CVS spokesperson stated that the inspections were carried out during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. They emphasized that improvements have been made since then, including the establishment of a strong pharmacy team. CVS is committed to ensuring adequate staffing and resources in their pharmacies to provide high-quality care to patients.
The original article can be found on Business Insider.