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The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has taken action against multiple pharmacists in Iowa due to errors in medication dispensing and other claimed breaches of regulations.
One of the cases involves Cedar Rapids pharmacist Thomas Kelly, who reached an agreement with the board in December, committing to suspend his pharmacy practice in order to align with the board's goal of safeguarding public health.
The document does not reveal the reasons behind the agreement, but it does mention that Kelly is “currently unable to practice” in accordance with Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 657-36.6(4). This particular section of the code addresses issues related to “habitual intoxication or drug addiction.”
The document states that the board approved the agreement on January 7, 2024; however, this seems to be a mistake, as the actual approval date should be January 7, 2025.
Other recent actions taken by the Board of Pharmacy, which seem to be mistakenly dated January 7, 2024, encompass:
Ryan Habeger of Algona – The board alleges that in May 2023, it conducted an in-depth inspection of KRHC Family Pharmacy, where Habeger worked, to evaluate its “accountability measures” for the handling of controlled substances. Later, the board states, Habeger agreed to implement certain corrective measures. However, a July 2024 follow-up inspection revealed no such measures had been implemented.
Consequently, Habeger and the board have come to a recent settlement, which states that he has received a citation and warning, and has consented to have his license subjected to a type of “probation” for an unspecified duration, though the specific terms of this probation remain unclear. The settlement also presents contradictory details regarding the amount of continuing education Habeger must fulfill, referring to it as “five (2) hours of board-sanctioned continuing education” focused on accountability measures.
In a similar situation, KRHC Family Pharmacy has consented to pay a civil penalty of $5,000 and will have its license put on probation for a period of five years. During this time, the pharmacy is required to submit quarterly reports to the board.
Lisa Freese of Cedar Rapids – The board alleges that on April 5, 2024, Freese dispensed the incorrect medication to a patient due to “name confusion” and that she failed to use other patient identifiers. The patient ingested the medication, the board alleges, and “suffered adverse effects.” Freese has been issued a citation and warning and ordered to complete an unstated number of hours of educational training related to patient safety.
Eric Arthur Smith of Farm & Family Veterinary Clinics in Victor, Brooklyn and Montezuma – The board alleges that Smith, during the undisclosed “time period relevant to these allegations,” dispensed controlled substances to a kennel operator without documentation or receipts. Smith is also alleged to have improperly dispensed controlled substances to kennels that lacked the required Controlled Substances Act registrations.
Smith faced charges for four regulatory infractions: distributing drugs for purposes other than legal ones; not including the necessary requirements for a prescription of controlled substances; neglecting to keep accurate dispensing records of controlled substances as mandated by law; and failing to uphold ultimate responsibility for controlled substances and their associated records.
Smith has consented to pay a civil penalty of $1,000 and to have his license put on probation for a period of two years. Throughout this probationary period, he will be subject to quarterly and random audits and inspections.
Thomas Vander Linden of Fairfield – The board alleges Vander Linden failed to report the suspected diversion of medications by pharmacist Bryan Vander Linden. He has agreed to pay a $500 civil penalty and accept a citation and warning from the board.
Kelly Ferris, Sioux City – The board alleges that while working in Sioux City, Ferris failed to verify the correct medication was dispensed to a patient. The board’s public documents give no indication as to whether the patient was harmed. Ferris has agreed to a settlement that calls for a citation and warning and a civil penalty of $500.
Jeanne Adams of Independence – The board alleges that on Feb. 17, 2024, Adams reviewed and then labeled a prescription for methotrexate intended for a patient who was a minor and that she did so without recognizing the prescription had been “dispensed with the incorrect strength.” The available board documents give no indication as to whether the patient was harmed. Adams has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1,000 and to complete five hours of educational training on “patient counseling.”
