Can an office staff employee maintain custody of a physician’s hard token?

Question:Is it allowed for an individual physician to have an office staff employee maintain custody of a physician’s hard token?
Answered by Elizaveta Bannova (CPC, CPCO, CPMA, CFPC, CMRS), education specialist at WCH Service Bureau:
No, the physician must be the sole possessor of the hard token, where applicable, and must not share access to it with any other member of the team. Moreover, physicians are not allowed to permit any other person to use the token or enter the knowledge factor to sign prescriptions for controlled substances. Failure by the practitioner to secure the hard token or knowledge factor may cause a suspension of the practitioner’s DEA registration.