Complaint Filed with US Dept. of Health and Human Services Alleging HIPAA Violations; Report Based on 100 “Well Experience” Store Observations
Washington, DC, September 23, 2013—Walgreens’ attempts to revolutionize the pharmacy may increase risks of medication errors and patient privacy violations, according to a new study by Change to Win Retail Initiatives (CtW). The report titled Behind the Desk uses data from 100 observations of Walgreens’ “Well Experience” pharmacy model in 50 stores located in Florida, Illinois, and Indiana. Based on the study’s findings, CtW filed a complaint alleging numerous breaches of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) with the US Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR).
“The right to privacy is an essential element of quality health care, and Well Experience appears to have fundamental flaws in its design and execution that warrant regulatory action,” said Deborah C. Peel, MD, Founder and Chair of Patient Privacy Rights, a leading national health care privacy organization. “As the nation’s largest drug chain, Walgreens should know that playing fast and loose with sensitive, protected patient information is not only wrong but also illegal.”
CtW’s investigation details significant problems with Well Experience, including:
- Violations of patient privacy. In 80 percent of stores visited, sensitive, HIPAA-protected patient information, such as medical histories, was left unattended and visible to customers in the pharmacy area.
- Inadequate medication security. Prescription medicine—in one case hydrocodone—was left unattended and within the reach of customers in 46 percent of stores visited.
- Increased pharmacist distractions. Field researchers observed nearly 150 distractions and interruptions to pharmacists that were unique to the Well Experience pharmacy model’s design —over one third of the total number observed. Interruptions and distractions are associated with increased medication errors.
- Low rates of patient counseling. Field researchers observed an average consultation rate of 8.2 percent in surveyed Well Experience pharmacies, despite Walgreens’ claims that the model increases counseling. Academic studies of chain pharmacies using secret shoppers found rates of 27 to 53 percent, Pharmacists are required by law to offer counseling for new prescriptions.
A key feature of Well Experience is the pharmacist sits in a work station in front of the pharmacy counter, and is typically not in the traditional prescription fill area. This relocates the pharmacist’s work station from a private space in the pharmacy to a public space. The out-in-front pharmacist remotely monitors the pharmacy technicians and checks the accuracy of prescriptions using photos and video displayed on a computer screen.
The OCR complaint raises additional privacy concerns stemming from the out-in-front pharmacist work station. Pharmacists’ computer screens and mobile devices, used to review prescription information, were sometimes observed to be unattended and visible to the public. The new format also enables shoppers to overhear sensitive telephone conversations about patients. Despite the vulnerabilities created by relocating the pharmacist to a public area, Walgreens’ policies and procedures appear to provide scant guidance on HIPAA compliance.
The report echoes the concerns of several state boards of pharmacy about Well Experience’s impact on the supervision of pharmacy technicians and the accuracy of prescription fills. For example, the Maryland board has rejected the model last year.
“Walgreens must not compromise pharmacists’ ability to perform their core duties of safely dispensing medication, counseling patients and protecting sensitive health information,” said Nell Geiser, Research Director of Change to Win Retail Initiatives.
About Change to Win Retail Initiatives
Change to Win Retail Initiatives is committed to making retailers more accountable and transparent to consumers, workers and all stakeholders.
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