10A NCAC 13F .1010       PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES

(a)  An adult care home shall allow the residents the right to choose a pharmacy provider as long as the pharmacy provides services that are in accordance with requirements of this Section, all applicable State and federal rules and regulations, and the facility's medication management policies and procedures.

(b)  There shall be a current, written agreement with a licensed pharmacist or a prescribing practitioner for pharmaceutical care services in accordance with Rule .1009 of this Section. The written agreement shall include a statement of the responsibility of each party.

(c)  The facility shall assure the provision of pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of the residents including procedures that assure the accurate ordering, receiving, and administering of all medications prescribed on a routine, emergency, or as needed basis.

(d)  The facility shall assure the provision of medication for residents on temporary leave from the facility or involved in day activities out of the facility. The facility shall have written policies and procedures for a resident's temporary leave of absence. The policies and procedures shall facilitate safe administration by assuring that upon receipt of the medication for a leave of absence the resident or the person accompanying the resident is able to identify the medication, dosage, and administration time for each medication provided for the temporary leave of absence. The policies and procedures shall include the following provisions:

(1)           The amount of resident's medications provided shall be sufficient and necessary to cover the duration of the resident's absence. For the purposes of this Rule, sufficient and necessary means the amount of medication to be administered during the leave of absence or only a current dose pack, card, or container if the current dose pack, card, or container has enough medication for the planned absence;

(2)           written and verbal instructions for each medication to be released for the resident's absence shall be provided to the resident or the person accompanying the resident upon the medication's release from the facility and shall include:

(A)          the name and strength of the medication;

(B)          the directions for administration as prescribed by the resident's physician; and

(C)          any cautionary information from the original prescription package if the information is not on the container released for the leave of absence;

(3)           the resident's medication shall be provided in a capped or closed container that will protect the medications from contamination and spillage; and

(4)           labeling of each of the resident's individual medication containers for the leave of absence shall be legible, include at least the name of the resident and the name and strength of the medication, and be affixed to each container.

The facility shall maintain documentation in the resident's record of medications provided for the resident's leave of absence, including the quantity released from the facility and the quantity returned to the facility. The documentation of the quantities of medications released from and returned to the facility for a resident's leave of absence shall be verified by signature of the facility staff and resident or the person accompanying the resident upon the medications' release from and return to the facility.

(e)  The facility shall assure that accurate records of the receipt, use, and disposition of medications are maintained in the facility and available upon request for review.

(f)  A facility with 12 or more beds shall have a current, written agreement with a pharmacy provider for dispensing services. The written agreement shall include a statement of the responsibility of each party.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 131D-2.16; 131D-4.5; 143B-165;

Eff. July 1, 2005;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2015;

Readopted Eff. October 1, 2022.