CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — State investigators are looking into reports of drugs missing from an ambulance service contracted to serve Chesterfield County.
Anderson-based Medshore Ambulance Service took over this year as the new medical-transport provider for Chesterfield County, replacing First Health.
Channel 9 has learned that reports of drugs, possibly morphine, missing from the EMS company have led to an investigation by the State Bureau of Drug Control.
Medshore executives told Channel 9 they were informed of an issue, and requested the investigation themselves.
Rodney Wilson is the company's chief of compliance.
"At this point, the investigation is ongoing so we're waiting for the outcome of the investigation. Again, we're cooperating fully with the Bureau of Drug Control," Wilson said.
Medshore Ambulance Service has roughly 500 employees, and now operates in 14 South Carolina counties.
The Chesterfield County investigation, considered an audit, began Monday and could take weeks, Wilson said.
"They come in and look at the records, and look at the medications that we carry," he said.
What's not known is how much is missing, and how long there have been concerns about possible theft.
The Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Bureau of Drug Control investigates 750 to 1,000 complaints a year related to misuse of controlled substances.
About half of those complaints lead to arrests and 25 percent of those charged are healthcare workers.
People in Chesterfield were shocked to learn of the investigation into the ambulance service.
"I think it's bad that another person might take medication that a sick person might need," said Tillie Scott, who runs a business downtown.
On Thursday, Chesterfield County officials were not available to comment in detail, but did tell Channel 9 they were aware of the criminal investigation into Medshore.
Sources said that one person has resigned amid the investigation. No charges have been filed.
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