Atlanta fire rescue department inventory management of medical supplies - May 2019
Atlanta Fire Rescue Department: Inventory Management of Medical Supplies
Released May 2019 Download the Full Report here Download highlights here We undertook this audit following our 2018 investigation of theft of fuel involving the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, which identified weak inventory controls. Several fire stations operate advanced life support vehicles that carry medical supplies, including controlled substances. Because of the weakness in controls over fuel, we chose to audit current inventory controls over medical supplies. |
We found:
- Poor record-keeping and control weaknesses prevented the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department from accurately and completely tracking drugs and medical supplies in both field and airport locations.
- Three to five vials of Versed, a controlled substance, were unaccounted for in field locations due to missing or incomplete log entries.
- Emergency medical services at both field and airport locations maintained a significant number of expired drugs and medical supplies on hand; over 80% of controlled substances at the airport were expired.
- Airport locations purchased part of an electronic inventory management system but the department has yet to implement it.