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)
