SECTION .3400 – AUTOMATED DISPENSING ON DruG SUPPLY DEVICES

21 NCAC 46 .3401             DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Section, the following terms are defined as follows:

(1)           "Automated medication system" means a robotic, mechanical, or computerized device that is not used for drug compounding and is designed to:

(a)           Distribute drugs in a licensed health care facility that holds a pharmacy permit; or

(b)           Package drugs for final distribution by a pharmacist.

(2)           "Distribution" means the process of providing a drug to an individual authorized to administer drugs and licensed as a health care provider in the state of North Carolina pursuant to an order issued by an authorized prescriber.

(3)           "Override medication" means:

(a)           A drug that may be removed from an automated medication system prior to pharmacist review because the Multidisciplinary Committee has determined that the clinical status of the patient would be compromised by delay; or

(b)           A drug determined by the Multidisciplinary Committee to have a low risk of drug allergy, drug interaction, dosing error, or adverse patient outcome, which may be removed from an automated medication system independent of a pharmacist's review of the medication order or clinical status of the patient.

(4)           "Physician controlled medication" is a drug ordered, prepared and administered by a physician or under the physician's direct supervision.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-85.6; 90-85.32; 90-85.33;

Eff. April 1, 1999;

Amended Eff. February 1, 2005; August 1, 2002;

Recodified from 21 NCAC 46 .1814 Eff. February 1, 2005;

Amended Eff. December 1, 2013;

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