Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 481 - Inspections and Appeals Department
Inspections Division
Chapter 63 - Residential Care Facility-three- to Five-bed Specialized License
Rule 481-63.16 - Drugs

a. Residents who have been certified in writing by their primary care provider as capable of taking their own medications may retain these medications in their bedroom, but locked storage must be provided, with staff and the resident having access, and the drug storage shall be kept locked when not in use. Monitoring of the storage, administration, and documentation by the resident shall be carried out by a person who meets the requirements of subrule 63.16(3) and is responsible for administering medications. (II, III)

b. Drug storage for residents who are unable to take their own medications and require supervision shall meet the following requirements:

a. All prescribed medications shall be clearly labeled indicating the resident's full name, primary care provider's name, prescription number, name and strength of drug, dosage, directions for use, date of issue, and name and address and telephone number of pharmacy or primary care provider issuing the drug. Where unit dose is used, prescribed medications shall, at a minimum, indicate the resident's full name, primary care provider's name, name and strength of drug, and directions for use. Standard containers shall be utilized for dispensing drugs. (Ill)

b. Sample medications provided by the resident's primary care provider shall clearly identify to whom the medications belong. (Ill)

c. Medication containers having soiled, damaged, illegible, or makeshift labels shall be returned to the issuing pharmacist, pharmacy, or primary care provider for relabeling or disposal. (Ill)

d. The medication for each resident shall be kept or stored in the original containers unless the resident is participating in an individualized medication program. (II, III)

e. Unused prescription drugs shall be destroyed by the person in charge, in the presence of a witness, and with a notation made on the resident's record or shall be returned to the supplying pharmacist. (Ill)

f. Prescriptions shall be refilled only with the permission of the resident's primary care provider. (II, III)

g. Medications prescribed for one resident shall not be administered to or allowed in the possession of another resident. (I, II)

h. Instructions shall be requested from the Iowa board of pharmacy concerning disposal of unused Schedule II drugs prescribed for a resident who has died or for whom the Schedule II drug was discontinued. (Ill)

i. Discontinued medications shall be destroyed within a specified time by a responsible person, in the presence of a witness, and with a notation made to that effect or shall be returned to the pharmacist for destruction. Drugs listed under the Schedule II drugs shall be destroyed in accordance with the requirements established by the Iowa board of pharmacy. (II, III)

j. All medication orders which do not specifically indicate the number of doses to be administered or the length of time the drug is to be administered shall be stopped automatically after a given time period. The automatic-stop order may vary for different types of drugs. The resident's primary care provider, in conjunction with the pharmacist, shall institute these policies and provide procedures for review and endorsement. (II, III)

k. No resident shall be allowed to possess any medications unless the primary care provider has certified in writing on the resident's medical record that the resident is mentally and physically capable of doing so. (II)

l. No medications or prescription drugs shall be administered to a resident without a written order signed by the primary care provider. (II)

m. The facility shall establish a policy to govern the distribution of prescribed medications to residents who are on leave from the facility. (II, III)

a. A properly trained person shall be charged with the responsibility of administering medications as ordered by a primary care provider. (II, III)

b. The person shall have knowledge of the purpose of the drugs and their dangers and contraindications. (II, III)

c. The person shall be a licensed nurse or primary care provider or an individual who has completed the state-approved training course in medication administration, including a medication manager or certified medication aide. (II, III)

d. Prior to taking a department-approved medication aide course, the person shall have a letter of recommendation for admission to the medication aide course from the employing facility. (Ill)

e. A person who is a nursing student or a graduate nurse may take the medication aide challenge examination in place of taking a course. The person shall do all of the following before taking the challenge examination:

f. A person who has written documentation of certification as a medication aide in another state may become a medication aide in Iowa by successfully completing a department-approved nurse aide competency examination and a medication aide challenge examination. The requirements of paragraph 63.16(3) "d" do not apply to this person. (Ill)

a. Unless the unit dose system is used, the person assigned the responsibility of medication administration must complete the procedure by personally preparing the dose, observing the actual act of swallowing the oral medication, and charting the medication. In facilities where the unit dose system is used, the person assigned the responsibility of medication administration must complete the procedure by observing the actual act of swallowing the oral medication and by charting the medication. Medications shall be prepared on the same shift of the same day that they are administered unless the unit dose system is used. (II)

b. Injectable medications shall be administered as permitted by Iowa law by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, primary care provider or pharmacist. For purposes of this subrule, "injectable medications" does not include an epinephrine autoinjector, e.g., an EpiPen. (II, III)

c. A resident certified by the resident's primary care provider as capable of injecting the resident's own insulin may do so. Insulin may be administered pursuant to paragraph 63.16(4)"b" or as otherwise authorized by the resident's primary care provider. (II, III) Authorization shall:

d. A resident may participate in the administration of the resident's own medication if the primary care provider has certified in writing in the resident's medical record that the resident is mentally and physically capable of participating and has explained in writing in the resident's medical record what the resident's participation may include.

e. An individual inventory record shall be maintained for each Schedule II drug prescribed for each resident, with an accurate count and authorized signatures at every shift. (II)

f. The facility may use a unit dose system.

g. Medication aides and medication managers may administer PRN medications without contacting a licensed nurse or primary care provider if all of the following apply: (I, II, III)

h. The pharmacist shall assess the use of PRN medications when conducting the inspection of drug storage as required by subparagraph 63.16(1)"b"(9). (II, III)

i. Medications administered by an employee of the facility shall be recorded on a medication record by the individual who administers the medication. (I, II, III)