In June 2013, Nelson Hardiman was engaged by a surgery center that discovered that a rogue employee was pilfering significant quantities of controlled substances from its medication cabinet for personal use and sale. The DEA was requesting cooperation from the physician owner of the surgery center in an audit. Although the employee was a primary target of the DEA investigation, the owner DEA registrant was also being investigated to determine culpability in the employee’s success in diverting narcotic opioids.
Nelson Hardiman reviewed the surgery center’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and, recommended changes in record-keeping and procedures to improve compliance. With Nelson Hardiman’s assistance, the DEA audit went smoothly, ultimately resulting in a closure of the investigation as to the physician owner of the surgery center without action.