As it approaches its 10th year of operation, Virginia’s prescription monitoring program is nearing a milestone.

The database of prescriptions — which allows doctors  and other health care professionals to check the records of patients  who might be abusing their medications — is expected to log more than 1  million requests for information this year, according to the state  Department of Health Professions.

It will be the first time since the system went  online in 2003 that annual queries have topped the 1 million mark. Six  years ago, the system had just 22,156 requests for data.

“We’ve experienced pretty explosive growth,” said Ralph Orr of the Department of Health Professions, who directs the program.

But while the number of prescribers using the system has grown significantly, some say there’s still not enough buy-in.

Continue reading here.

A New River Valley doctor was convicted Thursday of distributing painkillers and other medications to her patients.

After deliberating more than four hours, a jury in Roanoke’s federal court found Dr. Linda Sue Cheek guilty of 172 counts of either prescribing the drugs without a valid DEA registration number or using one issued to another doctor working in her practice.

Reading the jury’s verdict, a court clerk took more than 10 minutes to say the word “guilty” 172 times as Cheek sat at the defense table with her head bowed.

Cheek, who in 2008 was barred from prescribing drugs because of a health care fraud conviction, used the registration number of a semi-retired doctor who worked just one day a week at her Dublin office, the jury was told during the two-week trial.

Read the full story here.

The case of a New River Valley doctor charged with illegally prescribing pain medications to her patients is scheduled to go to a jury Thursday.

After nearly two weeks of testimony in Roanoke’s federal court, prosecutors this afternoon completed their evidence against Dr. Linda Sue Cheek.

Cheek did not testify or present evidence.  When the case resumes Thursday morning, jurors are expected to hear closing arguments before beginning their deliberations.

A 173-count indictment charges Cheek with illegally prescribing drugs from her pain management practice in Dublin. Prosecutors say Cheek either prescribed medications to her patients without a valid DEA registration number, or used one issued to another doctor in her practice.

Read more about the case here.

Dr. Linda Cheek

Monday was the first day of what could be a long trial in the case of  a New River Valley doctor charged with illegally prescribing drugs to her patients.

In opening statements to a jury in Roanoke’s federal court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennie Waering described how Linda Sue Cheek prescribed drugs either without a valid DEA registration or by using that of another doctor.

Cheek did not accept insurance, charging her new patients $150 and then additional fees for up to a three-month supply of painkillers.

“That sounds like a drug dealer,” Waering said. “More drugs for more cash.”

To read the rest of today’s story about the case, click here.

Here’s the short version of what happened today at a court hearing for a New River Valley doctor. For more details, check out roanoke.com or the print edition tomorrow.

One week before she goes to trial on charges of illegally prescribing pain medication, Dr. Linda Sue Cheek has already begun her defense.

“Hopefully this will mark the beginning of the end for government persecution of doctors treating pain,” Cheek wrote about the charges against her in a recent post to her website.

“Treating doctors like they are Columbian [sic] drug lords has got to stop,” wrote Cheek, whose license as a New River Valley pain management doctor is currently suspended.

On Monday, prosecutors asked a judge to bar Cheek from blogging, tweeting or engaging in other forms of internet communication about the case, arguing that her over-the-top posts could influence potential jurors.

U.S. District Court Judge Glen Conrad declined to issue such a ruling.

“It would be wrong for the court to say she forfeits her First Amendment rights when she becomes a defendant,” Conrad said.

Cheek is facing a 173-count indictment that charges her with illegally prescribing drugs at New River Medical Associates, a pain management practice she ran in Dublin.

As I approach my 28th year with The Roanoke Times, I am still a rookie when it comes to two things: Blogging and health care coverage.

So please bear with me as I attempt to cover the beat, and maintain this blog, as well as Sarah has done over the past five years.

Although a newcomer to the beat, I have produced stories in the past as a courts and general assignment reporter that touched on medical issues. I’ve written about prescription drug abuse, health care fraud, how the shortage of beds in mental hospitals caused a backlog of psychiatric patients in emergency rooms, and Carilion Clinic’s practice of collecting unpaid medical bills through thousands of court actions, sometimes mistakenly suing patients who should have qualified for charity care.

I’ve also done some feature stories, such as this piece about Carilion’s Physicians on Foot program to encourage patients to exercise more.

As I start the new beat, I’m looking forward to hearing your story ideas and suggestions.