A former Akron Children’s Hospital nurse is facing felony charges of stealing potent prescription painkillers while on duty.
The Ohio Board of Nursing opened up an investigation after 33-year-old Caitlin Abramovich admitted to stealing fentanyl, an opiate painkiller that doctors say is 40 times more potent than heroin, according to reports. Fentanyl has been in the news lately because drug dealers have surreptitiously mixed it with heroin to strengthen the potency of their products — which has led to a spike in overdose deaths across the country.
Abramovich, who is free after posting a $5,000 bond, also admitted to stealing morphine and hydromorphone, which are less potent opiates but still controlled substances. She told her supervisors she took and used the hospital’s syringes as well.
Abramovich, of Copley Township, is accused of stealing the drugs from Aug. 1 to Sept. 1 by diverting unused painkillers to disposal receptacles, according to police records.
Hospital officials reported the incident to the Board of Nursing, which reported it to police on Feb. 26.
After she reportedly admitted to stealing, she was fired from her position at the hospital and her nursing license was suspended, according to reports.
Board of Nursing records indicate she worked with anaesthesia and first obtained her nursing license in 2004.
She’s charged with theft of drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. According to Akron Municipal Court records, Abramovich is expected in court March 25 for her next hearing.
Hospital officials said the incident showed even doctors and nurses can be victims of the opiate and heroin epidemic that’s sweeping the nation.
“The opiate abuse epidemic is now front and center in the national conversation,” said Lisa Aurilio, the hospital’s chief nursing officer and vice president for patient services, “and Akron Children’s is involved at the local, state and national level in finding solutions through best practices, advocacy and legislation.”
Aurilio said in a statement that nurses and doctors are actually more at risk of abusing drugs because of their circumstances.
“Health care workers experience a great deal of stress due to the life and death situations they experience each day on the job,” she said. “This, coupled with their access to controlled substances, puts them at greater risk for substance abuse than the average person.”
The hospital works to educate its employees in an effort to minimize the risk, she said.
“At Akron Children’s Hospital, we train our staff to recognize the signs and symptoms of substance abuse in our patients as well as in their co-workers,” she said. “When we notice behavioral changes in staff that indicate a possible substance abuse problem, such as in this case, we follow Ohio law on reporting our concerns to the appropriate professional licensing board as well as law enforcement. We also connect the employee to treatment resources.”
Several policies are in place, she said, to monitor the dispensing, documentation and disposal of unused painkillers. In addition, all staff members undergo rigorous screening for criminal convictions and drug testing prior to employment.
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ.