The Washington State Department of Health issued a statement of deficiencies Thursday to Seattle-based Northwest Hospital & Medical Center for the hospital's failure to respond appropriately to suspected drug theft by surgical technician, Rocky Allen.
WSDH's investigation found Northwest Hospital failed to adequately investigate Mr. Allen for suspected drug diversion and did not report the incident to the health department, which state regulations require.
Northwest Hospital has 10 days to respond to the health department's statement of deficiencies.
"We have received the report, and we are reviewing it currently," a Northwest spokeswoman told the Denver Post. "We will follow the process for a response."
Mr. Allen worked for at least four other hospitals after working at Northwest Hospital before being caught diverting drugs at Englewood, Colo.-based Swedish Medical Center. He was arrested and is now awaiting trial on federal drug theft charges.