10A NCAC 70g .0510       MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

(a)  The agency shall have written policies and procedures regarding foster parents administering medications to children placed in their home that shall be discussed with each child and the child's parents, guardian or legal custodian, prior to or upon placement.

(b)  These policies and procedures shall address medication:

(1)           administration;

(2)           dispensing, packaging, labeling, storage and disposal;

(3)           review;

(4)           education and training; and

(5)           documentation, including medication orders, Medication Administration Record (MAR), orders and copies of lab tests, and medication administration errors and adverse drug reactions.

(c)  Upon discharge of a child from foster care, the foster parents or the agency shall return prescription medication to the person or agency legally authorized to remove the child from foster care.  Unwanted, out-dated, improperly labeled, damaged, adulterated or discontinued prescription medications shall be returned to a pharmacy for disposal.

(d)  The agency shall ensure that each child started or maintained on a medication by a licensed medical provider receives either oral or written education regarding the prescribed medication by the licensed medical provider or his or her designee. In instances where the ability of the child to understand the education is questionable, the agency shall ensure that a responsible person receives either oral or written education regarding the prescribed medication by the licensed medical provider or his or her designee and provides either oral or written instructions to the child.  The agency shall ensure that the medication education provided is sufficient to enable the child or other responsible person to make an informed consent, to safely administer the medication and to encourage compliance with the prescribed regimen.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 131D-10.5;

Eff. October 1, 2008.