The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

August 28, 2009

Ex-nurse stole drugs at hospital, attorney general says

Took extra medication for self

By Monica Pryts

GREENVILLE — A Pymatuning Township man has been accused of taking prescription painkillers for his own use from UPMC Horizon, Greenville, where he worked as a registered nurse.

Michael K. Miller, 47, of 1703 Park Lane, was charged by the state Attorney General’s office with acquisition of a controlled substance by fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, which is a felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, according to a news release issued Thursday by the office.

Miller was arraigned Wednesday by District Judge Brian Arthur, Greenville, and waived the charges and his preliminary hearing to the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas.

He’s free on bond and will be prosecuted by the Mercer County District Attorney’s office. Miller faces a maximum of 16 years in prison and $255,000 in fines.

“Our Bureau of Narcotics Investigation agents are very active in investigating medical professionals who are illegally using prescription pain medication. It is a potentially dangerous situation if the person you trust with your medical care is under the influence of drugs,” Attorney General Tom Corbett said.

Erin Palko, spokesperson for UPMC Horizon, said she could only comment that Miller no longer works for the hospital.

According to court documents filed by Narcotics Agent Lawrence J. Fuksa:

Fuksa was notified March 19 by Ronald Barnes, director of the hospital’s pharmacy, that Miller was suspected of theft for possibly taking Percocet from the medical acute care unit.

E. Tina Zank, nurse director, told Fuksa two nurses came to her office March 17 to discuss concerns they had regarding medication activity that happened during a shift with one patient.

During that shift, Miller reported twice medicating the patient of another nurse identified only as Nurse Gray while Nurse Gray was busy with other patients. Each time Nurse Gray checked on that patient, he denied having any pain.

Nurse Gray checked the computerized system that dispenses and tracks patients’ pain medication and found her patient had Percocet signed out to him multiple times, with some doses only 10 minutes apart.

Nurse Gray said Miller had a habit of medicating other nurses’ patients for “no apparent reason” when those nurses could easily medicate their own patients.

Barnes said he immediately printed reports from the system, which showed excessive amounts of Percocet being given to patients. Those records didn’t match those patients’ medication administration records.

On March 19, Barnes, the vice president of care services and Miller’s nurse manager met with Miller, who admitted he had taken the Percocet for his personal use.

Fuksa interviewed Miller June 10 at the Butler City Police Department, where Miller said he had an addiction problem with Percocet and he was the person who took the drug from the hospital to use at home.

Text Only
Local News
  • Couple charged in bank robbery

    A Hubbard man with a Mercer County rap sheet and his girlfriend have been charged with robbing a New Wilmington bank on Jan. 24.

    February 3, 2012

  • eCenter officials eye ways to attract kids to tech careers

    When government officials talk about promoting their municipalities for businesses and entrepreneurs, it’s assumed they are hoping to attract adults.

    February 3, 2012

  • Board to seek tax hike OK from state

    For Sharon City School District officials and many others across Pennsylvania, the headaches and planning for the 2012-13 budget have already begun.

    February 3, 2012

  • Bond payment savings will exceed $1 million

    Back in October, when Hermitage Municipal Authority officials first started talking about refinancing two bond issues, they expected they could save $106,000.

    February 2, 2012

  • Alleged shooter accused of 2nd robbery

    Joshua L. Stewart, the alleged triggerman in the fatal shooting of William “Billy” Basilone Jr., has been charged with robbing the Wild Game Inn in Farrell on Dec. 28.

    February 2, 2012

  • Stealing grandma’s cash sends man to prison

    The stepdaughter of a woman who was allegedly abused and robbed by her grandson choked up as she asked the man why he would do something so heinous to his grandmother.

    February 1, 2012

  • KC grad robbed, beaten; home torched

    A woman with Jamestown roots remains in a Virginia hospital a couple weeks after a brutal attack in her home that police say was a random act of violence.

    February 1, 2012

  • Marin 3rd Democrat to plan Kelly challenge

    A third Democrat says he wants to challenge U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly for his seat, and this one, like the last, has tried for the spot before.

    February 1, 2012

  • Pair jailed in ’08 drug store heist

    Two men were arrested Monday and charged with calling in a bomb threat to West Hill Elementary School in 2008 so they could rob the Medicine Shoppe on East State Street while police were distracted, police said.

    February 1, 2012

  • NFG lowers rates 9.8%

    It’s going to be less painful in the pocketbook to turn up the thermostat as National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. turned down its gas rates 9.8 percent.

    February 1, 2012