New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
He - Department of Health and Human Services
Subtitle He-P - Former Division of Public Health Services
Chapter He-P 800 - RESIDENTIAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITY RULES
Part He-P 815 - INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES (ICF/IID)
Section He-P 815.16 - Medication Services

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules He-P 815.16

Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024

(a) All medications shall be administered in accordance with the orders of the licensed practitioner.

(b) Medications, treatments and diets ordered by the licensed practitioner shall be made available to the resident within 24 hours of the order, or in accordance with the licensed practitioner's direction.

(1) Obtain any medication ordered for immediate use at the ICF/IID;

(2) Reorder medications for use at the ICF/IID; and

(3) Receive and record new medication orders.

(d) For each prescription medication being taken by a resident, the licensee shall maintain one of the following:

(1) The original written or electronic order in the resident's record, signed by a licensed practitioner or other professional with prescriptive powers; or

(2) A copy of the original written or electronic order in the resident's record, signed by a licensed practitioner or other professional with prescriptive powers.

(e) Each medication order shall legibly display the following information unless it is an emergency medication as allowed by (aa) below:

(1) The resident's name:

(2) The medication name, strength, and prescribed dose and route, if different then by mouth;

(3) The frequency of administration;

(4) The indications for usage for all medications that are used PRN; and

(5) The dated original or electronic signature of the ordering practitioner.

(f) Pharmaceutical samples shall be used in accordance with the licensed practitioner's order and labeled with the resident's name.

(g) The label of all medication containers maintained in the ICF/IID shall match the current orders of the licensed practitioner and include the expiration date of the medication unless authorized by (aa) below.

(h) Except as allowed by (f) above and (i) below, only a pharmacist shall make changes to prescription medication container labels.

(i) When the licensed practitioner changes the dose of a medication and personnel of the ICF/IID are unable to obtain a new prescription label:

(1) The original container shall be clearly and distinctly marked, for example, with a colored sticker that does not cover the pharmacy label, in a manner consistent with the ICF/IID's written procedure, indicating that there has been a change in the medication order;

(2) Personnel shall cross out the previous order on the daily medication record, indicating that the dose has been changed, and write the new order in the next space available on the medication record; and

(3) The change in dosage, without a change in prescription label as described in (1) and (2) above, shall be allowed for a maximum of 90 days from the date of the new medication order or until the medications in the marked container are exhausted or, in the case of PRN medications, until the expiration date on the container, whichever occurs first.

(j) Any change or discontinuation of medications taken at the ICF/IID shall be pursuant to an order from a licensed practitioner or other professional with prescriptive powers.

(k) The licensee shall require that all telephone orders for medications, treatments, and diets are immediately transcribed and signed by the resident receiving the order.

(l) The transcribed order in (k) above shall be counter-signed by the authorized provider within 30 days of receipt or next visit but not to exceed 60 days.

(m) The licensee shall obtain an order from a licensed practitioner for all over-the-counter medications.

(n) The medication storage area shall be:

(1) Locked and accessible only to authorized personnel;

(2) Clean and organized with adequate lighting to ensure correct identification of each resident's medication(s); and

(3) Equipped to maintain medication at the proper temperature per manufacturer's requirements.

(o) All medications at the ICF/IID shall be kept in the original containers or packaging and properly closed after each use.

(p) Topical liquids, ointments, patches, creams, or powder forms of products shall be stored in such a manner that cross contamination with oral, optic, ophthalmic, and parenteral products shall not occur.

(q) If controlled substances, as defined by RSA 318-B, are stored in a central storage area in the ICF/IID, they shall be kept in a separately locked compartment within the locked medication storage area accessible only to authorized personnel.

(r) The licensee shall develop and implement written policies and procedures regarding a system for maintaining counts of controlled drugs.

(s) All contaminated, expired, or discontinued medication shall be destroyed within 90 days of the expiration date, the end date of a licensed practitioner's orders, or the date the medication becomes contaminated, whichever occurs first.

(t) Controlled drugs shall be destroyed only in accordance with state law.

(u) Medication(s) may be returned to pharmacies for credit only as allowed by the law.

(v) If a resident is going to be absent from the ICF/IID at the time medication is scheduled to be taken and the resident is not capable of self-administering, the medication shall be given to the person responsible for the resident while the resident is away from the ICF/IID.

(w) Upon discharge or transfer, the licensee may make the resident's current medications available to the resident and the guardian or agent, if any.

(x) An order from a licensed practitioner shall be required annually for any resident who is authorized to carry emergency medications, including but not limited to nitroglycerine and inhalers.

(y) The licensee shall maintain a written record for each resident for each medication taken by the resident at the ICF/IID that contains the following information:

(1) Any allergies or allergic reactions to medications;

(2) The medication name, strength, dose, frequency, and route of administration;

(3) The date and the time the medication was taken;

(4) The signature, identifiable initials and job title of the person who administers, supervises, or assists the resident taking medication;

(5) For PRN medications, the reason the resident required the medication and the effect of the PRN medication; and

(6) Documented reason for any medication refusal or omission.

(z) Stock medications shall only be accessed and administered by the licensed nurse or any other professional authorized by state or federal regulation pursuant to a licensed practitioner's order.

(aa) An ICF/IID shall use emergency drug kits only in accordance with board of pharmacy rule Ph 705.02 under circumstances where the ICF/IID:

(1) Has a director of nursing who is a registered nurse (RN) licensed in accordance with RSA 326-B; and

(2) Has a contractual agreement with a medical director who is licensed in accordance with RSA 329 and a consultant pharmacist who is licensed in accordance with RSA 318.

(ab) The licensee shall develop and implement a system for reporting to the director of nursing or designee within 24 hours after any observed adverse reactions to medication and side effects, or medication errors such as incorrect medications.

(ac) The written documentation of the report in (ab) above shall be maintained in the resident's record.

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