California Code of Regulations
Title 22 - Social Security
Division 5 - Licensing and Certification of Health Facilities, Home Health Agencies, Clinics, and Referral Agencies
Chapter 3 - Skilled Nursing Facilities
Article 3 - Required Services
Section 72357 - Pharmaceutical Service-Labeling and Storage of Drugs

Universal Citation: 22 CA Code of Regs 72357

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Containers which are cracked, soiled or without secure closures shall not be used. Drug labels shall be legible.

(b) All drugs obtained by prescription shall be labeled in compliance with state and federal laws governing prescription dispensing. No person other than the dispenser of the drug shall alter any prescription label.

(d) Test reagents, germicides, disinfectants and other household substances shall be stored separately from drugs and shall not be accessible to patients.

(e) External use drugs in liquid, tablet, capsule or powder form shall be stored separately from drugs for internal use.

(f) Drugs shall be stored in appropriate temperatures. Drugs required to be stored at room temperature shall be stored at a temperature between 15°C (59°F) and 30°C (86°F). Drugs requiring refrigeration shall be stored in a refrigerator between 2°C (36°F) and 8°C (46°F). When drugs are stored in the same refrigerator with food, the drugs shall be kept in a closed container clearly labeled "drugs."

(g) Drugs shall be stored in an orderly manner in cabinets, drawers or carts of sufficient size to prevent crowding.

(h) Dose preparation and administration areas shall be well-lighted.

(i) Drugs shall be accessible only to personnel designated in writing by the licensee.

(j) Storage of nonlegend drugs at the bedside shall meet the following conditions:

(1) The manner of storage shall prevent access by other patients. Lockable drawers or cabinets need not be used unless alternate procedures, including storage on a patient's person or in an unlocked drawer or cabinet are ineffective.

(2) The facility shall record in the patient health record the bedside medications used by the patient, based on observation by nursing personnel and/or information supplied by the patient.

(3) The quantity of each drug supplied to the patient for bedside storage shall be recorded in the health record each time the drug is so supplied.

(k) Storage of legend drugs at the bedside shall meet the conditions of 72357(j) and shall in addition:

(1) Be specifically ordered by the prescriber of the drugs, and

(2) Be limited to sublingual or inhalation forms of emergency drugs.

(l) Drugs shall not be kept in stock after the expiration date on the label and no contaminated or deteriorated drugs shall be available for use.

(m) The drugs of each patient shall be kept and stored in their originally received containers. No drug shall be transferred between containers.

(n) Discontinued drug containers shall be marked, or otherwise identified, to indicate that the drug has ben discontinued, or shall be stored in a separate location which shall be identified solely for this purpose. Discontinued drugs shall be disposed of within 90 days of the date the drug order was discontinued, unless the drug is reordered within that time.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 208(a) and 1275, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 1418.5 and 1276, Health and Safety Code.

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