Incidentcase15

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today it has reached a $50,000 civil settlement with Nantucket Cottage Hospital in connection with the improper record-keeping of controlled substances by its pharmacy and the failure to maintain effective controls against diversion.

Nantucket Cottage Hospital is a member of Partners HealthCare and an affiliate of Massachusetts General Hospital. According to the settlement, the government’s investigation revealed that it failed to account for several controlled substances, improperly placed prescription drugs in an unlocked pharmacy refrigerator and stored keys for the expired-medications cabinet in an unlocked pharmacy drawer. NCH also failed to maintain invoices and other records required by law, and failed to report the loss of controlled substances in a timely manner, the settlement indicates.