Spokane7
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November 14, 2009 in City
Pharmacy on probation for distributing drug samples
A Spokane pharmacy has been placed on probation for five years after state investigators determined it disregarded demands from state regulators that it quit repackaging and distributing drug samples.
Northwest Health System also received a reprimand and a $10,000 fine, according to records released by the Washington State Department of Health’s Board of Pharmacy.
The company once ran a pilot program at its pharmacy that allowed it to take the sample drugs and place them into medicine bottles – a move the pharmacy envisioned would increase compliance among patients taking certain kinds of medications, particularly mental health drugs.
When the pharmacy board ordered the program stopped after eight years, Northwest Health ignored the order and directed its staff to continue the practice, according to records.
The board then filed charges.
No complaints of harm to patients were made, a health law judge noted while finding in favor of the board. Yet the judge also found the pharmacy acted selfishly because of profits earned from selling sample drugs, and wrongfully sought to prevent its professional pharmacy staff from discussing the legality of the program.
The judge’s order also states that Northwest Health cannot operate as a training site or use interns, and must permit random inspections for two years.
Couple acquitted of caging 2 boys 
cheddar on November 14 at 8:58 a.m.
Apparently, fact-checking has been replaced with splash and grandeur at the Spokesman Review. It’s a shame, really, to see the awkward fall of a once great publication. Perhaps this is why it’s been forced into a smaller format, to better compete with the tabloids.
What would really be interesting is if the Spokesman listed it’s sources, and then perhaps did a bit of background research into possible motivations of those sources.
slexib on November 14 at 9:00 a.m.
Thats typical media for ya. The story was represented even worse on KHQ. No worries tho, most people don’t subscribe to the Spokesman review anymore—with good reason. And anyone with 1/2 a brain realizes that most ‘news’ is less than 1/2 correct. The media is too worried about getting it to print/air first, not about the validity or accuracy of the story.
cheddar on November 14 at 9:47 a.m.
Original release for you Spokesman, just FYI, you know, in case facts matter to you. This is from the board of pharmacy. I don’t see the word “sell,” “fee,” or “profit” in there anywhere. Hmm…
http://www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/2009_news/09-180.htm
binder52 on November 14 at 12:50 p.m.
Thank you Cheddar for the linke to the truth. What a shame that a local organization that supports other local businesses and employees has to now deal with the backlash and damage that has been caused by the Spokesman Reviews poor reporting.
Shame also on KHQ news. KHQ made a statement several times this morning that the pharmacy “is no longer allowed to dispense medications”.
My building receives their prescription medications from this pharmacy daily and I can testify that it is just simply not true that they are not allowed to fill medications. I do not see any mention of those restrictions on the linke you provided.
Whatever happened to a community supporting and building up itself internally instead of all of this ugly, hurtful, untrue gossip mongering? I hope that pharmacy sues both organizations for the damage they are causing. shame, shame, shame.
Hope77 on November 14 at 1:15 p.m.
The article writer sure took a large creative liberty when they changed the Department of Health’s finding of ‘distributing samples’ into ‘selling of drug samples’.
kcfan_2004 on November 14 at 2:41 p.m.
I can assure anyone reading this that they are indeed STILL dispensing medications and that the spokesman and KHQ are possibly the worst news orginazations in spokane.
Ryan Pitts on November 16 at 12:43 p.m.
So … those of you questioning the reporting on this story: Which part do you specifically dispute? What did we get wrong?
This article does NOT state that Northwest Health is no longer allowed to dispense medications. And @cheddar, we DO list our sources — the original document is linked right with the story. You can download and read it yourself.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/nov/14/pharmacy-on-probation-for-selling-drug-samples/?documents
The original release from DOH is a good link to have, but this story is based on the findings of a panel examination of DOH’s complaint, with a health law judge presiding.
From the Findings Of Fact (Page 7, Paragraph 1.11): “The Respondent operates on a for profit basis. The Respondent benefited financially from the Sample Distribution Program through its financial arrangements with Spokane Mental Health, where its pharmacy was located, and through increased script volume. Financial benefit was a motivation for the Respondent’s continued conduct.”
From the Conclusions Of Law (Pages 11-12, Paragraph 2.9): “The Board considered the following aggravating factors: (1) Knowing conduct by the Respondent; (2) selfish motive; and (3) intent to prevent communications …”
Again, we do provide the original source document with this story, and I’ve highlighted exactly why we reported what we did on the points you called into question. If we got something wrong in this story, by all means tell us specifically what it is, and we’ll be happy to run a correction.
look_closer on November 16 at 6:15 p.m.
After following the blogs of outrage regarding the NW Health Systems Pharmacy probation, I find that I too am outraged. It is disheartening when bad things happen to good people, but this is definitely NOT one of those times. What are you people thinking when you are defending the behavior of Northwest Health and the King family? The $10,000 fine and 5 year probation period is just a slap on the hand compared to the penalties that should have been imposed. Northwest Health Systems Pharmacy, under the ownership and guidance of Kevin and Kim King, demonstrate a blatant lack of regard for laws and pharmacy regulations and have in many instances acted in ways that proclaim themselves and their company above the law.
Case in point, King and then director of Pharmacy Prete actually had the gall to tell the company’s pharmacists that they were not to question the legality of NW Health pharmacy practices anymore. This not only evidences their stupidity and lack of integrity, but also demonstrates a dangerous arrogance. This is a corrupt business driven by the unethical, illegal, and negligent behavior of its owners.
Over the years, the King family has relied on litigious bully tactics and the illegal competive advantage noted in the article in an attempt to maintain the profitability of their company. Kudos to the Spokesman for writing this story and please keep following up because this is only the tip of the iceberg.
As a side curiosity: Where did the comment go that was posted by Shawna C on Saturday that stated that this action is against a different pharmacy at a different address go? Did she realize it was a ridiculous statement because a satelite pharmacy owned and operated by the same people is the same business regardless of the address they use? Or was she told/asked to take her comments off? Is this a member of NW management?
addyh on November 18 at 10:55 a.m.
The wording in the online story was changed over the weekend from “selling” drug samples to “distributing” samples, in response to a letter from a pharmacy executive protesting the use of the word “selling.”
However, as I just explained to that executive, we do not believe the use of the word “selling” was incorrect, based on the state’s order that specifically noted the pharmacy had a financial motive and financial benefit. The executive’s letter also disputed the pharmacy’s address, listed in the original story online and in the print story. The address reported is indeed the address for the pharmacy’s corporate headquarters and is accurately used to reflect the address of the company.
The reporter was trying to be responsive and responsible by changing the wording of the story over the weekend until he could sort out the executive’s assertions on Monday. The immediacy of the Web gives us the ability to do that.
After the reporter had a chance to reexamine the state’s order, we determined the original wording was not inaccurate.
Anyone who would like to talk to me about our deliberations on this story is welcome to call me at (509) 459-3805 or e-mail me at addyh@spokesman.com.
Addy Hatch, city editor