Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
FACILITY STANDARDS AND LICENSING
Chapter 246-335 - In-home services agencies
Part 5 - Requirements Specific to Licensing and Operation of Hospice Care Centers
Section 246-335-722 - Pharmaceutical services

(1) Pharmaceutical services must be available twenty-four hours per day to provide medications and supplies through a licensed pharmacy;

(2) A licensed pharmacist must provide sufficient on-site consultation to ensure that medications are ordered, prepared, disposed, secured, stored, accounted for and administered in accordance with the policies of the center and chapter 246-865 WAC;

(3) Medications must be administered only by individuals authorized to administer medications;

(4) Medications may be self-administered in accordance with WAC 246-865-060(7)(f);

(5) Drugs for external use must be stored apart from drugs for internal use;

(6) Poisonous or caustic medications and materials including housekeeping and personal grooming supplies must show proper warning or poison labels and must be stored safely and separately from other medications and food supplies;

(7) The hospice care center must maintain an emergency medication kit appropriate to the needs of the center;

(8) Medications brought into the hospice care center by patients to be administered by an appropriate health care professional while in the center must be specifically ordered by an authorizing practitioner and must be identified by a pharmacist or licensed nurse with pharmacist consultation prior to administration;

(9) Drugs requiring refrigeration must be kept in a separate refrigeration unit;

(10) Schedule II through IV controlled substances must be:

(11) In addition to the requirements in subsection (10) of this section, schedule III and IV controlled substances must be:

(12) The hospice care center must provide for continuation of drug therapy for patients when temporarily leaving the center in accordance with WAC 246-865-070;

(13) If planning to use an automated drug distribution device, the hospice care center must first receive pharmacy quality assurance commission approval; and

(14) If planning to provide pharmacy services beyond the scope of services defined in this section, the hospice care center must comply with the requirements for a licensed pharmacy in chapter 246-869 WAC.