Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention Program
Assessment Tool

Overview

ASHP is committed to assisting organizations in meeting the highest standards when it comes to drug diversion prevention programs. ASHP developed this Tool, to help keep your organization, employees, and patients safe. The Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention Program (CSDPP) Assessment Tool serves as a practical resource to help organizations determine the extent to which they are following the best practice recommendations included in the ASHP Guidelines on Preventing Diversion of Controlled Substances . This Tool provides:

  • A concise survey of items to assess as best practice for your CSDPP
  • Summarizes the gaps and allows for comparisons of results across practice sites
  • Assists the organization in the creation of an action plan
  • Supports download of data for custom reporting

How To Use This Tool

This Tool is structured in a survey format and is applicable to most practice settings that handle controlled substances, including health systems, community pharmacies, free-standing surgery centers, and long-term care facilities. This Tool is also designed to be flexible, and participants can complete the assessment as individuals or as part of an organization-wide team effort. The Tool will help organizations to identify gaps and develop action plans as they work toward alignment with the guidelines. You can find more information in the Quick Start Guide .

Who Should Use This Tool?

The assessment questions in this Tool should be completed by healthcare team members who have a knowledge of or responsibility for controlled substances management, including pharmacy diversion managers, controlled substances coordinators, compliance/risk management officers, nursing managers, medication safety officers, practice managers, or supervisors.

Limitations:

  • This implementation guidance does not include all legal requirements and is intended to enhance diversion prevention controls in the health-system setting and should complement policies and procedures required by state, federal, and local authorities as well as accreditation agencies.
  • It is possible that the relevant information used to build the elements of this Tool has changed since publication of the ASHP Guidelines on Preventing Diversion of Controlled Substances.
  • The Tool is intended to help you identify areas that may require additional attention, research, and/or consideration.

Principles of Use:

  • While the ASHP's CSDPP Assessment Tool intends to align, where applicable, with federal and state laws, regulations, and guidelines, these are subject to change and interpretation. Users should check for updates to applicable standards, regulations, and guidelines as part of their assessment process.
  • While this Tool is intended to be helpful to hospital/health-system CSDPPs in the administration of their programs, it does not purport to establish a standard of care.

Disclaimer

The resources provided through the Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention Program Assessment Tool (the “Tool”) are provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, accounting, tax, or other professional advice of any kind. No users of the Tool should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in the Tool without seeking the appropriate professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue. The contents and products of this Tool address topics of interest to pharmacy practitioners and other audiences, and are offered on a blind basis, without any knowledge as to specific circumstances. The contents of the Tool contain general information only. ASHP does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, currency of information, or usefulness of the Tool or of any information contained in the Tool. ASHP expressly disclaims all liability in respect to the use of the Tool, including, but not limited to, any actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of the Tool. The contents of the Tool address topics of interest to pharmacy practitioners and other audiences, and are offered on a blind basis, without any knowledge as to specific circumstances. The application and impact of relevant laws will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The Tool does not include all relevant legal requirements or incorporate all current applicable laws. The Tool is intended solely to enhance diversion prevention controls in the health-system setting and should only be used to complement policies and procedures required by state, federal, and local authorities as well as those required by accreditation agencies.