WAC 246-335-175   Pharmaceutical services.  The licensee must assure that all pharmaceutical services are provided consistent with chapter 246-865 WAC and the following requirements:

     (1) Pharmaceutical services must be available twenty-four hours per day to provide medications and supplies through a licensed pharmacy;

     (2) A pharmacist must provide sufficient on-site consultation to ensure that medications are ordered, prepared, disposed, secured, stored, accounted for and administered in accordance with the policies of the center and chapter 246-865 WAC;

     (3) Medications must be administered only by individuals authorized to administer medications;

     (4) Medications may be self-administered or administered by a designated family member in accordance with WAC 246-865-060 (7)(f);

     (5) Drugs for external use must be stored apart from drugs for internal use;

     (6) Poisonous or caustic medications and materials including housekeeping and personal grooming supplies must show proper warning or poison labels and must be stored safely and separately from other medications and food supplies;

     (7) The hospice care center must maintain an emergency medication kit appropriate to the needs of the center;

     (8) Medications brought into the hospice care center by patients to be administered by an appropriate health care professional while in the center must be specifically ordered by an authorizing practitioner and must be identified by a pharmacist or licensed nurse with pharmacist consultation prior to administration;

     (9) Drugs requiring refrigeration must be kept in a separate refrigeration unit;

     (10) Schedule II - IV controlled substances must be:

     (a) Kept in a separate keyed storage unit; and

     (b) When heat sensitive, be kept in a locked refrigeration unit;

     (11) Schedule II - IV controlled substances no longer needed by the patient must be disposed in compliance with chapter 246-865 WAC;

     (12) The hospice care center must provide for continuation of drug therapy for patients when temporarily leaving the center in accordance with WAC 246-865-070;

     (13) If planning to use an automated drug distribution device, the hospice care center must first receive board of pharmacy approval; and

     (14) If planning to provide pharmacy services beyond the scope of services defined in this section, the hospice care center must comply with the requirements for a licensed pharmacy in chapter 246-869 WAC.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.127 RCW. 02-18-026, § 246-335-175, filed 8/23/02, effective 10/1/02.]