Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 657 - PHARMACY BOARD
Chapter 7 - HOSPITAL PHARMACY PRACTICE
Rule 657-7.6 - Pharmacist absence
Universal Citation: IA Admin Code 657-7.6
Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 19, March 20, 2024
(1) Pharmacist absent from the pharmacy department. A pharmacy's policies and procedures shall identify how the pharmacy will operate and be secured to prevent unauthorized access during times when the pharmacist may be absent from the pharmacy department but not absent from the facility. The policies and procedures shall also identify authorized activities of pharmacy staff in the pharmacy department during the absence of the pharmacist from the department in compliance with rules of the board.
a.
Remote pharmacy services.
Pursuant to rule 657-7.7 (155A), the pharmacy may
utilize the services of a remote pharmacist or pharmacy to provide pharmacist
services to assist the pharmacy department while the on-site pharmacist is
absent from the pharmacy department, such as when participating in clinical
activities with facility staff and patients.
b.
Certified pharmacy
technicians. Pursuant to the pharmacy's policies and procedures, a
certified pharmacy technician may be granted access to the pharmacy department
to perform authorized technical functions. In the absence of a pharmacist, a
certified pharmacy technician may only dispense, deliver, or distribute a drug,
including a compounded preparation and controlled substance, when the drug is
verified by a pharmacist, including by a remote pharmacist, except as
authorized in an approved technician product verification program. A certified
pharmacy technician may assist a licensed health care professional in locating
a drug to meet the emergent needs of a patient but shall not provide final
verification of the accuracy of the drug product obtained.
c.
Pharmacy support persons.
Pursuant to the pharmacy's policies and procedures, a pharmacy support person
may be granted access to the pharmacy department to perform authorized
nontechnical functions.
d.
Licensed health care professionals. Pursuant to the pharmacy's
policies and procedures, a licensed health care professional may be granted
access to the pharmacy department to meet the emergent needs of a patient. A
licensed health care professional may utilize the assistance of a certified
pharmacy technician to locate a drug but shall not rely on the technician to
verify the accuracy of the drug product obtained.
(2) Pharmacy department closed. When the pharmacist is absent from the facility, the pharmacy department shall be closed and secured to prevent unauthorized access. The pharmacist in charge shall identify in policies and procedures the facility and pharmacy staff, by title or designation, who are authorized access to the pharmacy department and the specific activities that are authorized.
a.
Remote pharmacy services.
Pursuant to rule 657-7.7 (155A), the pharmacy may
utilize the services of a remote pharmacist or pharmacy to provide pharmacist
services to the facility when the pharmacy is closed.
b.
Certified pharmacy
technicians. Pursuant to the pharmacy's policies and procedures, a
certified pharmacy technician may be granted access to the pharmacy department
to perform authorized technical functions. In the absence of a pharmacist, a
certified pharmacy technician may only dispense, deliver, or distribute a drug,
including a compounded preparation and controlled substance, when the drug is
verified by a pharmacist, including by a remote pharmacist. During each period
of time the certified pharmacy technician is working in the pharmacy without
pharmacist supervision, the technician shall document the time worked and
activities performed. The documentation shall be periodically reviewed by the
pharmacist in charge. A certified pharmacy technician may assist a licensed
health care professional in locating a drug to meet the emergent needs of a
patient but shall not provide the final verification of the accuracy of the
drug obtained.
c.
Pharmacy
support persons. Pursuant to the pharmacy's policies and procedures, a
pharmacy support person may be granted access to the pharmacy department to
perform authorized nontechnical functions. During each period of time the
pharmacy support person is working in the pharmacy without pharmacist
supervision, the support person shall document the time worked and activities
performed. The documentation shall be periodically reviewed by the pharmacist
in charge.
d.
Licensed
health care professionals. Pursuant to the pharmacy's policies and
procedures, a licensed health care professional may be granted access to the
pharmacy department to meet the emergent needs of a patient. A licensed health
care professional may utilize the assistance of a certified pharmacy technician
to locate a drug but shall not rely on the technician to verify the accuracy of
the drug product obtained. The pharmacy shall maintain documentation of such
access and activities. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections
124.301,
147.76,
147.107,
and
155A.33.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Iowa may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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