OHIO —  The Ohio Board of Pharmacy announced sanctions against a Canton CVS pharmacy on Wednesday, and it could be the first of many stores facing fines.

What You Need To Know

  • The Ohio Board of Pharmacy states the pharmacy was short staffed in 2021, endangering patient safety

  • The company must pay $250,000 in fines, and the store itself is also under a minimum three-year probation, stating the store must ensure sufficient staffing at all times to reduce fatigue, distraction or other conditions

  • In addition, the store needs to fill prescriptions within three days with the exception of automatic refills, which have to be ready within five days

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy states the pharmacy was short staffed in 2021, endangering patient safety. Because of this, the company must pay $250,000 in fines. The store itself is also under a minimum three-year probation, stating the store must ensure sufficient staffing at all times to reduce fatigue, distraction or other conditions. 

The store must also come up with a system for employees to request additional staff in writing and share requests with the board. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy prohibited CVS from retaliating against pharmacy employees who may report dangerous situations. 

In addition, the store needs to fill prescriptions within three days with the exception of automatic refills, which have to be ready within five days. 

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy said violations of these sanctions could be grounds for further penalities, including the revocation of the pharmacy's license. 

“We hope that this decision will send a strong message to Ohio pharmacies that they have an obligation to serve their patients by ensuring appropriate staffing levels,” said State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy Executive Director Steven Schierholt in a press release. “The Board will continue to inspect and hold those accountable for working conditions that endanger patients and pharmacy staff.” 

The sanctions announced Tuesday stem from an investigation that began in 2021, which found that customers were experiencing significant delays in getting their prescriptions, phones not working, an unsafe working environment for staff and lack of appropriate drug security and control.