HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- The Virginia Board of Pharmacy suspended Westbury Pharmacy's pharmacy permit over concerns about its ability to assure the "quality, sterility, integrity, safety and efficacy of drugs dispensed, along with its ability to safeguard against the diversion of drugs." A sign on the West End pharmacy's door reads the prescription department is temporary [sic] closed. In a statement, Westbury Pharmacy offered its explanation.
"Over a year ago it was discovered that a janitor had accessed our prescription department and stolen substantial amounts of pain medication," the statement began. "We immediately notified the police. That individual was arrested, pled guilty, and is now in jail. In its investigation, the Board has raised many issues about the operations of our prescription department. We take these issues very seriously."
Westbury said as a result, it has changed the way the pharmacy was managed and operated.
In its statement on what happened, the Virginia Department of Health Professions stated the issues at the pharmacy went beyond pill theft.
"In unannounced inspections conducted in May 2014, February 2015, and a drug audit in May 2014, state inspectors observed significant deficiencies that raised concerns about the pharmacy’s ability to assure the quality, sterility, integrity, safety and efficacy of drugs dispensed, along with its ability to safeguard against the diversion of drugs," the department wrote in a statement. "These deficiencies included issues with drug storage and security which may have contributed to a loss of over 50,000 tablets of controlled substances; medications in the pharmacy’s drug stock that were expired or mislabeled; medications that were unlabeled or without expiration dates; bottles containing medications from two different manufacturers; and bottles with pills in excess of the amount listed on the label."
The Virginia Board of Pharmacy said while it was not aware of any issues with drugs recently dispensed by Westbury Pharmacy, it recommended patients "consult with a prescriber or pharmacist with any concerns about medications obtained at Westbury Pharmacy."
"We are surprised and dismayed that the Board has temporarily shut down our prescription department. Safeguarding the health of our patients and serving this community has always been our highest priorities."
The Virginia Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to conduct a formal hearing on Westbury Pharmacy on May 29.
Westbury, which is located in Ridge Shopping Center in Henrico County, has transferred its prescriptions to Westwood Pharmacy located at 5823 Patterson Avenue.
"Our colleagues at that pharmacy will be taking care of our current patients. We will be doing everything we can to work with the Board of Pharmacy to re-open our prescription department as soon as possible."
In addition to Westwood, the Virginia Board of Pharmacy released the following information for Westbury patients:
Because of the immediate summary suspension of the Westbury Pharmacy permit, prescriptions will no longer be able to be filled at this facility. Existing prescriptions will be transferred to Westwood Pharmacy located at 5823 Patterson Avenue Richmond, VA, telephone (804) 288-1933, with the exception of prescriptions for hospice patients which will be transferred to Rx3 located at 12230 Ironbridge Road, Suite C, Chester, VA, telephone (804) 717-5000. Patients who are not enrolled in a hospice program should contact Westwood Pharmacy at (804) 288-1933 to refill existing prescriptions or to request transfer of their prescription to a pharmacy of their choice. Patients enrolled in a hospice program should contact their hospice provider or Rx 3 at (804) 717-5000 to refill existing prescriptions or to request transfer of their prescription to a pharmacy of their choice
The deli and store at Westbury Pharmacy remained open, the statement concluded. However the entire store appeared closed for business Friday morning.
