Atlanta hospital faces sanctions in worker drug scheme

ATLANTA (AP) – An Atlanta hospital faces sanctions after investigators discovered pharmacy employees ordered more than 1 million doses of addictive drugs for illegal use.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday that an investigation found a scheme involving two pharmacy technicians at Emory University Hospital Midtown.

An order by the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy says two workers secretly ordered drugs from a wholesaler for five years and billed the hospital. The prescription medications included an anti-anxiety drug and powerful painkillers.

Emory Midtown must pay a $200,000 fine, and its pharmacy license is on probation for three years.

A statement from Emory Healthcare says no patients were harmed, and the hospital cooperated with the investigation. The suspicious orders were uncovered in 2013.

Both workers were fired, and the order doesn’t include their names.

*Photo via Atlanta Journal-Constitution