Section 300. Pharmaceutical services

A. Provision shall be made for the procurement, storage, dispensing, and accounting of drugs and other pharmacy products in compliance with 18VAC110-20. This may be by arrangement with an off-site pharmacy, but must include provisions for 24-hour emergency service.

B. Each nursing facility shall develop and implement policies and procedures for the handling of drugs and biologicals, including procurement, storage, administration, self-administration and disposal of drugs.

C. Each nursing facility shall have a written agreement with a qualified pharmacist to provide consultation on all aspects of the provision of pharmacy services in the facility.

D. The consultant pharmacist shall make regularly scheduled visits, at least monthly, to the nursing facility for a sufficient number of hours to carry out the function of the agreement.

E. No drug or medication shall be administered to any resident without a valid verbal order or a written, dated and signed order from a physician, dentist or podiatrist, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, licensed in Virginia.

F. Verbal orders for drugs or medications shall only be given to a licensed nurse, pharmacist or physician.

G. Drugs and medications not limited as to time or number of doses when ordered shall be automatically stopped, according to the written policies of the nursing facility, and the attending physician shall be notified.

H. Each resident's medication regimen shall be reviewed by a pharmacist licensed by the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. Any irregularities identified by the pharmacist shall be reported to the physician and the director of nursing, and their response documented.

I. Medication orders shall be reviewed at least every 60 days by the attending physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant.

J. Prescription and nonprescription drugs and medications may be brought into the nursing facility by a resident's family, friend or other person provided:

1. The individual delivering the drugs and medications assures timely delivery, in accordance with the nursing facility's written policies, so that the resident's prescribed treatment plan is not disrupted;

2. Each drug or medication is in an individual container; and

3. Delivery is not allowed directly to an individual resident.

In addition, prescription medications shall be obtained and labeled as required by law.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 13, Issue 17, eff. July 1, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 07, eff. January 11, 2006.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-127 of the Code of Virginia.