51. QUALIFIED PHARMACY EMPLOYEES (Q.P.E.)
A. Qualifications:
(1) A high school graduate or a recognized
graduate equivalency degree (G.E.D.).
(2) Of good moral character and temperate
habits
(3) If the Q.P.E. has a past
record of alcohol or drug addiction or past record of violation of any law
related to controlled substances, employment must be prior approved by the
Board of Pharmacy.
B.
Supervision:
Supervision means that the responsible pharmacist must be
physically present to observe, direct, and supervise the Q.P.E. at all times
when the Q.P.E. performs acts specified in this regulations.
The supervising pharmacist is totally and absolutely responsible
for the actions of the Q.P.E.
The supervising pharmacist shall assure that the Q.P.E. maintains
confidentiality of all patient records.
C. Q.P.E. may assist the pharmacist in
performing the following specific tasks. If the Q.P.E. performs any other task
that is defined as the practice of pharmacy, it will be considered a violation.
Approved Q.P.E. tasks:
(1) Placing, packing, pouring, or putting in
a container for dispensing, sale, distribution, transfer possession of,
vending, or barter any drug, medicine, poison, or chemical which, under the
laws of the United States or the State of Arkansas, may be sold or dispensed
only on the prescription of a practitioner authorized by law to prescribe
drugs, medicines, poisons, or chemicals. This shall also include the adding of
water for reconstitution of oral antibiotic liquids.
(2) Placing in or affixing upon any container
described in Section C-1 of this Regulation a label required to be placed upon
drugs, medicines, poisons, or chemicals sold or dispensed upon prescription of
a practitioner authorized by law to prescribe those drugs, medicines, poisons,
or chemicals.
(3) Selecting, taking
from, and replacing upon shelves in the prescription department of a pharmacy
or apothecary drugs, medicines, chemicals, or poisons which are required by the
law of the United States or the State of Arkansas to be sold or dispensed only
on prescription of a practitioner authorized by law to prescribe
them.
(4) In a manual system -
preparing, typing, or affixing labels to be placed or affixed on any container
described in ACA §
17-91-101(14)(A),
which a label is required to be placed upon drugs, medicines, poisons, or
chemicals sold or dispensed upon prescription of a practitioner authorized by
law to prescribe those drugs, medicines, poisons, or chemicals.
In a computer system - a Q.P.E. may enter information into the
pharmacy computer. The Q.P.E. shall not make any judgement decisions which
could affect patient care. The final verification of prescription information,
entered into the computer, shall be made by the supervising pharmacist who is
then totally responsible for all aspects of the data and data entry.
(5) A Q.P.E. may obtain prescriber
authorization for prescription refills provided that nothing about the
prescription is changed.
D. A pharmacy which utilizes a Q.P.E. to
enter information into the pharmacy computer must develop and keep, on file at
the pharmacy, written policy and procedures which describe the procedures by
which the supervising pharmacist verifies the accuracy, validity, and
appropriateness of the filled prescription or medication order.
E. Pharmacist to Q.P.E. ratio:
(1) A pharmacy, with one pharmacist on duty,
may utilize two Q.P.E.'s to assist the pharmacist. Beyond two, the maximum
number of assistants at any given time is limited to a number equal to the
number of pharmacists on duty in the pharmacy at that specific time with a
limit of four (4) Q.P.E.'s.
(2)
While supervising one or two Q.P.E.'s the pharmacist shall not also supervise
more than one student intern. A Graduate intern will not affect the ratio.
(10/07/91 and 10/13/95)
