Ex-nurse arrested on drug charge
A former nurse at Canonsburg General Hospital was arrested Wednesday by a state attorney general’s agent, accused of taking narcotic drugs from the facility.
Jami M. Barr, 30, of 565 Manifold Road, South Strabane Township, was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller on one count of acquisition or obtaining a controlled substance through misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
The AG’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation had received a report from hospital officials regarding Barr, who had been terminated for the suspected diversion of controlled substances while employed as a registered nurse.
As part of the investigation, the agent learned that the pharmacy director was conducting a routine review of automated drug cabinet reports when she noticed a discrepancy on morphine sulfate injections. The discrepancy prompted a further review, which revealed several removals of morphine for the same patient over a small interval of time. At least two removals did not correspond with administration times of the medication record, nor was waste of partial doses documented.
The nurse manager, pharmacy director and nurse management staff conducted a review of Barr’s medication dispensing and administration for the period of July 31 through Aug. 29, according to the criminal complaint. The review identified several doses of oxycodone, morphine and hydrocodone as being removed from the automated dispensing machines by Barr without corresponding documentation of administration to patients or wasting of unused portions.
Barr was interviewed by the nurse manager and human resources manger. She could not account for the missing medication, and her employment was terminated. Unaccounted medication as determined by an audit included 14 tablets of oxycodone, six tablets of hydrocodone and 5.2 milliliters of morphine, according to court records.
Barr reportedly told AG’s office agents she diverted oxycodone tablets from the hospital between spring 2012 and her termination. Barr indicated she took oxycodone that patients did not ask for or refused. She told investigators she took the drug for her own use and no one else was involved. Barr also indicated that she did not divert any other controlled substances. She attributed the discrepancies in hydrocodone and morphine to clerical or mechanical errors.
A hospital spokeswoman said Thursday, “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies on this matter and decline any further comment.”
Barr was released on her own recognizance. A hearing is set for April 9 before Weller.