Drug Diversion Insights with Terri Vidals

Terri Vidals
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Mental Health

For everyone in the healthcare industry looking to reduce substance abuse and drug diversion. The host, Terri Vidals, is a pharmacist with over 30 years of experience; fifteen of those years in medication safety and drug diversion prevention and monitoring. Listen to an interview each week with a healthcare professional involved in diversion detection. Learn about how to leverage artificial intelligence to detect diversion and get exposure to products or services designed to facilitate diversion detection.

  1. 4d ago

    Why Diversion Software Can't Do It Alone with Gordon Watkins, Wolters Kluwer

    Drug diversion software can help identify risk, analyze patterns, and prioritize potential concerns—but technology alone doesn't create an effective diversion prevention program. In this episode of Drug Diversion Insights, Gordon Watkins of Wolters Kluwer joins us to explore what actually makes a drug diversion program work and why people, process, and technology all need to be part of the strategy. Drug diversion often receives significant attention after a case is discovered. The harder challenge is building the systems, processes, and organizational culture needed to identify potential problems earlier. Gordon discusses what separates a comprehensive diversion program from one that simply exists on paper—and why purchasing sophisticated diversion software doesn't eliminate the need for experienced professionals to manage the program. In this episode, we discuss: Why diversion software cannot operate effectively on its ownThe importance of people, process, and technology working togetherWhat can happen when organizations implement software and then reduce diversion program staffingHow technology can help identify activity that warrants further investigationWhy every alert still requires appropriate review and follow-upHow organizations can govern their diversion technologyHow to confirm alerts are actually being workedWhat organizations should expect during the first month of implementation versus a mature programWhy data quality is critical to effective diversion analyticsHow incomplete or inconsistent data feeds can affect monitoringWhat diversion technology needs from the organization to perform effectivelyMachine learning versus generative artificial intelligenceHow Sentri7 uses machine learning in drug diversion monitoringWhy human judgment remains essential even as analytics become more sophisticatedWhat diversion program leaders should continually re-examine as their programs evolveWe also address an increasingly important topic in healthcare technology: machine learning and artificial intelligence. Gordon explains the distinction between the machine learning used within Sentri7 and the generative AI technologies that have become widely discussed in recent years. Understanding that difference can help healthcare leaders better evaluate what their diversion technology is actually doing—and what it still requires from the people using it. Another major theme is governance. Generating an alert is only the beginning. Someone still needs to review the information, understand the clinical and operational context, determine whether additional investigation is necessary, document the outcome, and ensure potential concerns don't disappear into a queue. The same applies to data. Even sophisticated analytics depend on the quality and completeness of the information being provided. Ultimately, this conversation reinforces an important principle for healthcare organizations: Buying diversion software is not the same as building a diversion program. Technology can make monitoring and investigations more efficient, but effective diversion prevention still depends on trained people, defined processes, reliable data, appropriate governance, and organizational support. Whether your organization already uses diversion monitoring software—from Wolters Kluwer or another vendor—or is evaluating whether to implement it, this episode offers practical questions to bring back to your diversion team. An important conversation for drug diversion specialists, pharmacists, pharmacy leaders, medication safety professionals, compliance teams, nursing leaders, risk management professionals, healthcare executives, controlled substance committees, and healthcare technology leaders responsible for strengthening medication oversight and protecting patients. More from Rxpert Solutions

  2. Sep 9

    More Than a Substitute: The Truth About Buprenorphine

    Buprenorphine saves lives, yet it remains surrounded by myths, stigma, and misunderstanding. Is it simply replacing one opioid with another? What happens when a patient taking buprenorphine needs surgery or treatment for acute pain? And should a positive test for another substance mean treatment has failed? In this episode of Drug Diversion Insights, Jef Bratberg, PharmD, FAPhA, Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Rhode Island, joins us for an evidence-based conversation about buprenorphine, opioid use disorder (OUD), harm reduction, pain management, and recovery. Jef shares his journey from infectious disease and critical care pharmacy into advocacy and policy work, and how that path led him to become a nationally recognized voice in harm reduction, naloxone access, and the treatment of opioid use disorder. From there, we tackle some of the most persistent questions surrounding buprenorphine. In this episode, we discuss: What buprenorphine is and its role in treating opioid use disorderWhy the idea that buprenorphine simply “replaces one addiction with another” misses important clinical distinctionsDependence versus addictionWhy stigma continues to limit access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD)Buprenorphine's role in recovery and harm reductionWhy buprenorphine remains underused for pain managementManaging acute pain in patients stabilized on buprenorphineWhat clinicians should consider when a patient taking buprenorphine needs surgeryThe use of additional opioid analgesics when clinically necessaryWhether exposure to opioids for legitimate acute pain can affect recoveryWhat a positive test for another substance should mean during treatmentWhy continued substance use doesn't automatically mean treatment has failedNaloxone access and overdose preventionThe role pharmacists can play in improving access to evidence-based treatmentOne particularly important part of the conversation focuses on hospitalization and pain management. Patients receiving buprenorphine still experience surgery, injuries, and acute painful conditions. Clinicians therefore need a plan that addresses both adequate pain control and continuity of opioid use disorder treatment. We also examine what happens when someone receiving treatment tests positive for another substance. Rather than treating a test result as the entire clinical picture, the conversation explores what that result can tell the care team and why continued engagement in treatment matters. Ultimately, this episode is about moving beyond stigma and misconceptions toward a better understanding of a treatment that can play a critical role in reducing the harms associated with opioid use disorder. Whether you're a pharmacist, physician, nurse, addiction medicine professional, pain management clinician, healthcare leader, person in recovery, or family member, this conversation offers a practical and compassionate look at what buprenorphine actually does—and the barriers that still prevent people from receiving effective care. More from Rxpert Solutions

  3. Sep 2

    One Platform, Actionable Insight: A Comprehensive Approach to Diversion Management

    A strong drug diversion program shouldn't just help you investigate what already happened. It should help you identify risk earlier and give your team the information needed to act. In this episode of Drug Diversion Insights, Rick Couldry, Chief Pharmacy and Clinical Officer at Omnicell, and Jay Patel, Product Manager for Diversion Management, join us to explore how healthcare organizations can move from reactive diversion investigations toward a more proactive, connected approach to diversion management. Drug diversion programs generate enormous amounts of data, but data alone doesn't create visibility. The challenge is connecting information across medication workflows, identifying meaningful patterns, and turning those patterns into actionable insights. Rick and Jay discuss what changes when diversion management becomes part of a broader medication-management ecosystem rather than operating as another isolated point solution. In this episode, we discuss: Why healthcare drug diversion remains difficult to detect proactivelyHow connected medication data can strengthen diversion monitoringTurning diversion data into actionable insightsThe role of technology in supporting diversion investigations Why integration across medication-management workflows mattersOmnicell's approach to Diversion ManagementHow Diversion Management fits into Omnicell's broader medication-management strategyOmniSphere and the future of connected medication managementThe conversation also looks at OmniSphere, Omnicell's cloud-native platform, and what a more connected medication-management environment could mean for diversion teams. For healthcare organizations, the goal isn't simply to collect more data. It's to make that data more useful. Can connected systems provide the visibility needed to recognize potential diversion patterns sooner? Can analytics help teams focus limited investigative resources on the activity that matters most? And how can technology become part of a comprehensive diversion strategy that brings together people, processes, governance, and data? This episode is for pharmacy leaders, drug diversion specialists, medication safety professionals, compliance teams, nursing leaders, risk management professionals, healthcare executives, and health system technology leaders looking for ways to strengthen controlled substance oversight and move their diversion programs from reactive to proactive. Drug Diversion Insights is presented by Rxpert Solutions, bringing together healthcare leaders and industry experts to examine the challenges, strategies, and technologies shaping drug diversion prevention and medication safety.

  4. Aug 26

    Should Healthcare Professionals Be Allowed to Use Cannabis?

    Cannabis laws are changing across the United States—but what should that mean for healthcare professionals working in safety-sensitive, patient-facing roles? In this episode of Drug Diversion Insights, Abby Migliore, COO of the Intervention Project for Nurses (IPN), and Shannon Opie, CEO, return to tackle one of the most complicated issues facing healthcare organizations today: cannabis, THC testing, workplace policy, impairment, and patient safety. Many healthcare facilities have strong drug diversion prevention and monitoring programs, yet cannabis is often treated differently. State laws vary widely, the federal regulatory landscape continues to evolve, and employers are left trying to determine how to create policies that are fair, defensible, and centered on safe patient care. Then there's the testing problem. Unlike alcohol, where testing can provide information about recent use and estimated alcohol concentration, a positive THC test does not necessarily establish whether a healthcare professional is impaired at that moment. THC metabolites may remain detectable after the impairing effects have passed, creating difficult questions for employers and monitoring programs. In this episode, we discuss: Why cannabis presents a unique challenge for healthcare workplace policiesMedical versus recreational cannabis use among healthcare professionalsThe changing state and federal landscape surrounding marijuanaHow cannabis differs from alcohol in safety-sensitive workplacesWhether healthcare facilities should maintain cannabis-free workplace policiesHow organizations can balance employee considerations with their responsibility to protect patientsThe central issue isn't simply whether cannabis is legal. It's whether healthcare organizations have established a clear standard for professionals whose work directly affects the safety of patients. If an adverse event occurs and a healthcare professional subsequently tests positive for THC, determining whether cannabis contributed to the event may be difficult. But the absence of a clear policy can create uncertainty for everyone involved. What standard should healthcare adopt when the law, science, testing technology, and patient safety expectations don't align neatly? This episode doesn't pretend there is a simple answer. Instead, Abby and Shannon help unpack what we know, what we still don't know, and why healthcare organizations need to have this conversation before an incident forces them to. An important discussion for nurses, pharmacists, physicians, healthcare executives, HR leaders, compliance professionals, employee health teams, risk managers, diversion specialists, and anyone responsible for workplace drug and impairment policies. More from Rxpert Solutions

  5. Aug 19

    18% of Nurses Screened Positive. Why Are We Still Waiting?

    Why do we so often wait until a nurse fails, an incident occurs, or patient safety is at risk before connecting someone with help? In this episode of Drug Diversion Insights, Terri is joined by Abby Migliore and Shannon Opie of the Intervention Project for Nurses (IPN), Florida's alternative-to-discipline program for nurses with substance use disorders and other conditions that may affect safe practice. A national survey found that 18% of registered nurses screened positive for a substance use problem, with approximately one-third of those screening positive for a substance use disorder. Those findings raise an important question: Are we doing enough to recognize and support healthcare professionals before a problem reaches a crisis point? Abby and Shannon take us inside the alternative-to-discipline process and explain what structured recovery and return to nursing practice actually look like. In this episode, we discuss: How alternative-to-discipline programs for nurses workWhat happens when a nurse enters IPNEvaluation, treatment, and ongoing recovery monitoringDrug and alcohol testing requirements and testing cadenceWorkplace restrictions during return to practiceThe role of supervised return-to-work plansWhat neurocognitive testing evaluates before a nurse returns to practiceMedications for opioid use disorder in safety-sensitive healthcare rolesThe balance between workplace accommodation and patient safetyWhy healthcare organizations often wait for a “smoking gun” before interveningThe opportunity to recognize problems and connect nurses with support earlier Alternative-to-discipline doesn't mean eliminating accountability. It's about creating a structured pathway that supports recovery while keeping safe nursing practice and patient protection at the center. This conversation is especially relevant for nurses, nurse leaders, healthcare executives, employee health professionals, diversion specialists, compliance teams, professional monitoring programs, and anyone interested in substance use disorder among healthcare professionals. And there's more to come. Abby and Shannon will return for another conversation focused on cannabis in patient-facing healthcare roles, including the complicated question of cannabis-free workplace policies in states where cannabis is legal. Follow Drug Diversion Insights so you don't miss Part 2. More from Rxpert Solutions

  6. Aug 14

    The Safest Pharmacy Is the One That Talks About It

    What happens when a pharmacy professional experiences a substance use disorder, enters recovery, and then returns to the same workplace—with the same colleagues and access to controlled substances? In this episode of Drug Diversion Insights, we hear both sides of that experience. One guest shares what it was like to return to pharmacy practice after substance use disorder and rebuild trust with colleagues. The other shares the perspective of the pharmacy leader responsible for maintaining the safeguards, accountability, and support needed to make that return safe for employees and patients alike. Together, they tackle a difficult question healthcare organizations often avoid: Can a healthcare professional in recovery safely return to a role with access to controlled substances? We discuss: What returning to pharmacy practice after substance use disorder really looks likeThe challenges of rebuilding trust with coworkersAccountability measures and safeguards that support a safe return to practiceHow pharmacy leaders can support recovery without compromising patient safetyThe role of state pharmacy recovery and professional monitoring programsWhy transparency about recovery can be a strengthHow stigma can discourage healthcare professionals from seeking helpWhy open conversations about substance use disorder can strengthen workplace cultureWhether having a professional in recovery on the team can actually increase awareness and accountability around controlled substancesSupporting recovery and protecting patients don't have to be opposing goals. With appropriate monitoring, clear expectations, accountability, and a workplace willing to have honest conversations about substance use disorder, healthcare professionals can be supported while patient and medication safety remain the priority. This episode is for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy leaders, diversion specialists, compliance professionals, healthcare executives, and anyone interested in creating a safer and more supportive approach to substance use disorder in healthcare. Sometimes the safest pharmacy isn't the one where substance use disorder is never discussed. It's the one where people feel safe enough to talk about it. More from Rxpert Solutions

  7. Aug 5

    Upstream of Diversion: Pain, Mental Health, and the Making of a Substance Use Disorder

    Substance use disorder rarely begins with the substance itself. Long before addiction develops, many individuals are navigating a complex combination of chronic pain, mental health challenges, trauma, and other life circumstances that increase their risk. Understanding those connections helps us recognize substance use disorder earlier and respond more effectively. In this episode of Drug Diversion Insights, Terri welcomes back Dr. Paul Lynch, anesthesiologist and CEO of US Pain Care, along with his father, Larry Lynch, a licensed clinical social worker. Together, they combine medical and behavioral health perspectives to explore why treating pain, mental health, and substance use disorder as separate conditions often falls short. In this episode, we discuss: The relationship between chronic pain and substance use disorderHow mental health influences both pain and addictionThe concept of the tri-diagnosis: pain, mental health, and substance use disorderExpanding to the quad-diagnosis, incorporating homelessness as another critical factorThe challenge of determining whether pain or mental health issues come firstWhy integrated, whole-person care leads to better outcomesThe importance of reducing stigma surrounding substance use disorderHow earlier intervention can improve both patient care and long-term recoveryWhether you're a physician, pharmacist, nurse, behavioral health professional, addiction specialist, healthcare leader, or simply interested in understanding the complexity of substance use disorder, this episode offers valuable insight into the factors that exist long before addiction becomes visible. By looking upstream, we can better understand the root causes of substance use disorder and create opportunities for earlier intervention, more compassionate care, and better outcomes for patients. More from Rxpert Solutions

  8. Jul 29

    Less Burden, Better Compliance: Remote Drug Testing That Works for Facilities and Participants

    Can remote drug and alcohol testing deliver the same level of confidence as traditional collection methods? In this episode of Drug Diversion Insights, Terri sits down with Chris Roames, Chief Operating Officer of RecoveryTrek, to explore how remote drug testing is transforming recovery monitoring, professional health programs, treatment centers, employers, and healthcare organizations. RecoveryTrek has been supporting substance use monitoring programs since 2011. Its flagship platform, PROOF, enables participants to complete drug and alcohol testing remotely—from home or virtually anywhere—while incorporating guided specimen collection, identity verification, and safeguards designed to maintain specimen integrity. Chris explains what makes remote testing effective, walks through the different specimen collection methods, and addresses one of the biggest questions organizations have: How can you be confident the sample came from the right person and wasn't tampered with? In this episode, you'll learn: How remote drug and alcohol testing worksThe technology behind RecoveryTrek's PROOF platformHow participant identity is verified during remote collectionsMethods used to help protect specimen integrityDifferent specimen types and when each is usedApplications for healthcare organizations, treatment centers, employers, courts, and professional monitoring programsHow remote testing can reduce barriers while improving complianceWhere remote testing fits into today's recovery and healthcare landscapeWhether you work in healthcare, behavioral health, addiction treatment, professional monitoring, compliance, or employee health, this episode provides an inside look at how technology is making drug testing more accessible while maintaining the standards organizations depend on. As monitoring programs continue to evolve, remote testing is helping improve convenience for participants while reducing administrative burden for organizations—without losing sight of accountability and compliance. More from Rxpert Solutions

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For everyone in the healthcare industry looking to reduce substance abuse and drug diversion. The host, Terri Vidals, is a pharmacist with over 30 years of experience; fifteen of those years in medication safety and drug diversion prevention and monitoring. Listen to an interview each week with a healthcare professional involved in diversion detection. Learn about how to leverage artificial intelligence to detect diversion and get exposure to products or services designed to facilitate diversion detection.

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