When Careers Hang in the Balance: Interviewing Healthcare Professionals Suspected of Diversion

Drug diversion investigations in healthcare are among the most sensitive interviews an investigator can conduct. When handled poorly, these interviews can fail to uncover the truth—and permanently damage an innocent professional’s career.

In this episode of Rxpert Solutions, I’m joined by Dave Thompson, former head of diversion investigations for a large retail pharmacy chain and current President of Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates. Dave brings decades of experience conducting high-stakes interviews where the outcomes can impact licenses, livelihoods, and lives.

We discuss why traditional pressure-based interview techniques often backfire, and how a trauma-informed, transparent, truth-focused approach leads to more reliable outcomes for both investigators and healthcare professionals.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

Why diversion interviews carry uniquely high emotional and professional risk

How presuming guilt undermines investigations

The impact of fear, stress, and trauma on interview responses

How to balance accountability with fairness and humanity

What investigators, compliance teams, HR, and leaders should understand before conducting these interviews

This episode puts Dave in the teacher’s seat, offering practical guidance for anyone involved in diversion prevention, compliance, HR, pharmacy leadership, nursing leadership, or healthcare administration.

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