The Software Isn't Catching It—Their Coworkers AreThe Software Isn't Catching It—Their Coworkers Are
Drug Diversion Insights with Terri Vidals
Kim Harris and Morgan Gray describe how Mercy built a centralised drug diversion prevention programme across dozens of hospitals and pharmacies. They outline practical workflows, culture-building strategies, and ways to act on diversion risks even without dedicated software.
41:21•14 Oct 2026
Coworkers Catching Diversion Before the Software: Inside Mercy’s 55-Hospital Approach
Episode Overview
- A centralised diversion team can be built by reallocating existing staff and focusing first on full-time posts rather than software.
- Consistent coworker education and multiple reporting options can lead peers to identify diversion before monitoring systems do.
- Daily review of unreconciled controlled substance dispenses, with direct follow-up to nurses and leaders, improves accountability and real-time resolution.
- Investigations benefit from structured documentation, respectful interviewing, searching before drug screens, and safeguarding the dignity of the coworker involved.
- Even without a paid software solution, health systems can use their EMR and automation tools to monitor diversion while developing future budgets.
“We’re identifying diversion before our software is catching it in some cases.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey within healthcare settings where drugs are everywhere? This conversation zooms in on the hidden side of hospital life: preventing drug diversion across a huge health system. Pharmacist and host Terri Vidals talks with Kim Harris, Manager of Controlled Substance Stewardship, and Morgan Gray, Supervisor of Drug Diversion Prevention at Mercy.
Between them, they’re overseeing controlled substances across 55 hospitals and more than 60 retail pharmacies, backed by an 11-person diversion team made up entirely of experienced pharmacy technicians. You’ll hear how Mercy moved from each hospital doing its own thing to a centralised programme, sparked by an external review that highlighted resource gaps and risks. Kim explains how they built a case for support, persuaded senior leaders, and secured full-time posts without initially asking for expensive software.
As Morgan puts it, “It can be done… you can catch diversion that way until you get a budget to get your software.” A big theme is culture. Kim and Morgan describe how co-worker education and clear reporting routes have led to peers spotting diversion before any monitoring system does.
One standout line captures it: “We’re identifying diversion before our software is catching it in some cases.” They talk about anonymous reporting options, a reasonable suspicion checklist for impairment, and a strong focus on maintaining dignity during investigations. They also share practical workflows, like daily follow-up on unreconciled medications through Epic, and remind you to look beyond controlled drugs to riskier non-controlled ones such as diphenhydramine, propofol and GLP‑1 samples.
If you’ve ever felt stuck because “we don’t have the budget”, this episode shows how much can be done with education, existing data, and a caring, accountable culture. What’s one small step you could take today to make diversion safer in your own workplace?
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