How to Define Significant Loss (When the DEA Won't)

What exactly qualifies as a "significant loss" of controlled substances? It's one of the most common—and most challenging—questions facing healthcare organizations. While the DEA requires reporting of significant losses, it intentionally does not provide a universal definition, leaving hospitals to determine what is appropriate for their own operations. In this episode of Drug Diversion Insights, Terri is joined by Calvin Parmiter, System Pharmacy Manager for Diversion and Compliance at West Virginia University Medicine, and Shannan Molnar, Drug Diversion Coordinator for multiple WVU Medicine facilities. Together, they discuss how their team developed a standardized approach to defining significant loss, reducing uncertainty and creating consistency across a large, multi-site health system. In this episode, we discuss: Why the DEA leaves "significant loss" undefined How WVU Medicine developed its own standardized reporting criteria Building a practical checklist to guide reporting decisions Reducing subjectivity during diversion investigations The challenges of managing diversion programs across multiple hospitals Standardizing processes while accounting for differences between large and rural facilities Preparing local leadership to respond when diversion specialists aren't on site Lessons learned from implementing a system-wide diversion program What worked, what didn't, and advice for organizations building their own programs Whether you're a diversion specialist, pharmacy leader, compliance officer, medication safety professional, nurse leader, or healthcare executive, this episode offers practical guidance for creating consistent, scalable diversion prevention practices across complex healthcare systems. If your organization has ever struggled with defining significant loss or standardizing diversion response across multiple sites, this conversation provides a roadmap built from real-world experience. 🔗 More from Rxpert Solutions https://www.rxpert.solutions/?utm_sou... Follow us: Facebook:   / rxpertsolutions   X (Twitter):   / rxpertsolutions   LinkedIn:   / rxpertsolutions   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6UwSCi8... #DrugDiversionPrevention #DEA #HealthcareCompliance #MedicationSafety #ControlledSubstances #HospitalPharmacy #DiversionMitigation #HealthcareLeadership #PatientSafety #PharmacyLeadership #RxpertSolutions