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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#002060">I am wondering, and maybe Catherine Zimmer can speak to this because she probably worked on the legislation, whether the automated dispensing systems could
reduce theft in nursing homes and hospitals. It should certainly help to reduce waste! YAY!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minnesota allows automated drug dispensing in nursing homes</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The MN legislature passed a bill in March to allow automated drug dispensing machines that will reduce pharmaceutical waste in nursing homes and keep leftover drugs from being
flushed into the sewer system. This will save money too. </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue"><a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/?id=166&doctype=Chapter&year=2012&type=0">https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/?id=166&doctype=Chapter&year=2012&type=0</a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#666666">Published April 18, 2012, 06:12 PM
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black">Hospital drug theft reports soar in Minnesota<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:130%;background:white"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A coalition of law enforcement and health officials says reports of drug thefts are soaring at Minnesota
hospitals and nursing homes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:130%;background:white"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">A report by the group finds the number of reported incidents in Minnesota has climbed from 24 in 2005 to 52 in 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:130%;background:white"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Experts say it's a reflection of a nationwide surge in prescription-drug abuse — in many cases by those who care for patients.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:130%;background:white"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">The Star Tribune says the report was released Wednesday by the Controlled Substance Diversion Coalition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:130%;background:white"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">The coalition also created a toolkit with "100 best practices" to help facilities reduce the risk of drug theft. Those include
surveillance cameras in "high-risk areas," locking up prescription pads and training staff to "speak up" when they suspect someone is stealing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:130%;background:white"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#002060">So then:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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