TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — CVS Caremark will pay New Jersey $650,000 and improve its quality assurance and oversight under an agreement that resolves incidents where CVS pharmacies mistakenly commingled patients' pills.
The discoveries came to light when the state began investigating the company. That came after a CVS pharmacy in Chatham had mistakenly distributed breast cancer drugs to children instead of giving them fluoride pills they were prescribed. Officials have said only a few children ingested the pills, and no injuries related to the mix-up were reported.
During the subsequent investigation, CVS provided details on four other mix-ups involving various medications, which all occurred in March 2012 at pharmacies in Cherry Hill, Budd Lake, Rahway and Scotch Plains.
"In order to protect the public and prevent these errors from happening again, the state's Consumer Affairs Division pushed CVS to work with us on an effective solution," state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said Monday. "As a result, CVS has already begun to enhance its quality and safety assurance measures."
Noting that such errors are "a very rare occurrence," the company said an internal investigation determined that they occurred due to human error and deviation from the company's "stringent" quality and safety procedures.
To help prevent such errors from occurring again, CVS has retrained its staff and enhanced the oversight and quality assurance measures at its New Jersey pharmacies. That should provide closer monitoring to ensure prescriptions are filled accurately, before they are dispensed, officials said.
The company will also give consumers additional resources to check the accuracy of their medication. For example, the CVS website will provide color images of medications and offer a personalized prescription profile for each customer.
The state will use the $650,000 payment from CVS to help fund a public campaign to educate consumers on how to check and learn more about their medications and encourage them to ask a pharmacist when they have questions. It also will help make the public aware of the dangers of prescription drug abuse.
"The agreement with New Jersey acknowledges our continued commitment to enforcing our enhanced procedures, and reflects the joint commitment to public safety and the safe and accurate filling of prescriptions," Mike DeAngelis, CVS's director of public relations, told The Associated Press.
Based in Woonsocket, R.I., CVS Caremark operates 7,458 drugstores in the United States.
Friday, May 24 2013 12:43 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:43:54 GMT
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by superstorm Sandy.
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by superstorm Sandy. The Fox 5 weather team is calling for sunny skies on Sunday and Monday.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:12 AM EDT2013-05-24 15:12:21 GMT
AP photo
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:23 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:23:33 GMT
New Jersey's education commissioner has overturned the firing of a high school athletic director who was caught on camera putting dog waste on his ex-wife's car.
New Jersey's education commissioner has overturned the firing of a high school athletic director who was caught on camera putting dog waste on his ex-wife's car.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:17 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:17:32 GMT
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:11 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:11:26 GMT
An Edison, N.J., police officer was arrested and accused of setting fire to the home of a police captain in his department, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
An Edison, N.J., police officer was arrested and accused of setting fire to the home of a police captain in his department, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:50:04 GMT
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:55 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:55:29 GMT
A $1,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men seen running to and away from a homicide scene Tuesday night in Camden.
A $1,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men seen running to and away from a homicide scene Tuesday night in Camden.
