Methadone clinic faces sanctions
By ANNETTE WELLS
The Nevada Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance has warned a Las Vegas methadone clinic that it intends to sanction the facility for failing to follow state patient safety laws.
As a result of a Nov. 17 inspection, Vegas Valley Treatment Center, 1325 S. Commerce St., cannot accept any new patients until 10 deficiencies are fixed, state health officials announced Friday.
The facility has until Dec. 31 to correct the deficiencies or face the loss of its license and was fined $1,600 for its infractions. It is one of a dozen methadone clinics in Nevada treating 2,290 patients statewide, officials said.
The bureau started an investigation after a former Vegas Valley Treatment Center patient filed a complaint.
During its investigation, the bureau found that the physician in charge was not performing medical evaluations of the patients prior to methadone treatments. Those medical evaluations were, however, being performed by the clinic's nurses.
Medical evaluations are a requirement under state law to determine if methadone is suitable treatment for the patient.
According to the Merck Manual of Medical Information, methadone is used for treating addictions to heroin and opioids.
Though the bureau had the option of closing the clinic, officials decided to allow it to remain operational so its 122 patients could continue receiving methadone treatments.
The bureau also recommended that the clinic's physician increase his time at the clinic to at least two days a week and up to five days a week if needed.
The physician also must enter into a monitoring program with another physician in Las Vegas.
Vegas Valley Treatment Center can appeal the sanction, officials said.
