21 NCAC 46 .1412             PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

A health care facility pharmacy shall have sufficient floor space allocated to it to ensure that drugs are prepared in sanitary, well lighted, and enclosed places. It shall have equipment and physical facilities for proper compounding, dispensing, and storage of drugs, including parenteral preparations. In addition to the requirements of Section .1600 of this Chapter, the equipment and physical facilities shall include the following:

(1)           Dispensing areas;

(2)           Compounding areas that comply with Section .2800 of this Chapter;

(3)           Receiving and storage areas;

(4)           Packaging and repackaging areas;

(5)           Office space sufficient to allow for administrative functions without interference with the safe compounding and dispensing of medications and security of the pharmacy;

(6)           Storage. All drugs shall be stored in designated areas within the pharmacy or decentralized pharmacy sufficient to provide sanitation to prevent contamination, moisture control, and security to prevent access from unauthorized personnel. Controlled substances shall be stored in compliance with applicable Federal and State laws and regulations. Alcohol and flammables shall be stored in areas that shall meet basic local building code requirements for the storage of volatile substances and all other laws, ordinances, or regulations that may apply; and

(7)           Security. All areas occupied by the health care facility pharmacy, to include auxiliary drug supplies and unit dose carts, shall remain secured at all times.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-85.6; 90-85.21; 90-85.32;

Eff. May 1, 1997;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2015; March 1, 2013;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. October 3, 2017.