www.whec.com Posted at: 08/21/2008 04:28:47 PM
Updated at: 08/21/2008 06:19:42 PM
By: Linzi Sheldon
Former nurse accused of stealing drugs, medical records
He's accused of stealing medications and supplies from Thompson Hospital but police are more concerned about what else they found inside a former nurse's home.
Chris Handy of Mount Morris is charged with petit larceny and drug possession. He was working at Thompson Hospital when he was found with drugs and stolen medical records.
Neighbors in Mt. Morris described Chris Handy as a quiet man that they couldn't believe would have a drug problem. But police say they believe differently after searching his home earlier this month.
Hundreds of syringes and containers of stolen medication - it took six full-sized medical tubs to remove it all from Handy's home.
“It was strange to see the amount of exposed needles and syringes, used syringes, at someone's residence. It was a dangerous situation.
Canandaigua detectives worked with Mt. Morris police to search the trailer after Handy's arrest in late July but they didn't just find drugs. There were medical records from Thompson, Strong, and Highland hospitals.
We don't know the exact reason he had possession of the medical records. In addition to the mt. Morris police department, who helped us with the search warrant, thompson hospital we're working with them to see if there was any ill use of the medical records.
Police say they believe handy stole the drugs to fuel his own addiction to painkillers.
“What he would do is, he would empty the containers where medical waste was located and, by medical waste I mean the used syringes and the used vials of medicine. He would take the contents and then he would look for certain medications and then extract what was left over.”
Helen Norris has lived next door to Handy for nearly 20 years and she says she doesn't believe it. “I really can honestly say I don't think Chris has got an addiction to a drug. Because like I said, there's signs. If somebody were on morphine like that, he'd be a walking zombie. I think there has to be a lot more to it than that.”
Police are working to return those stolen medical records to the correct hospitals and they are continuing their investigation.
Handy is scheduled to appear in court on October 31.
Thompson Hospital released this statement today:
Thompson Health has strict procedures in place to protect all patient information. It was because of our own internal monitoring process that we were able to immediately identify this activity, collaborate with the authorities, and to take additional steps to protect our patients and their medical records.
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Friday, August 22nd 2008 at 11:14PM
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