21 NCAC 46 .3404             STOCKING OR RESTOCKING OF AN AUTOMATED MEDICATION SYSTEM

(a)  Responsibility for accurate stocking and restocking of an automated medication system lies with the pharmacist-manager and with any pharmacist tasked with supervising such functions as specified in Subparagraph (b)(2) of this Rule.

(b)  The stocking or restocking of an automated medication system, where performed by someone other than a pharmacist, shall follow one of the following procedures to ensure correct drug selection:

(1)           A pharmacist shall conduct and document a daily audit of drugs placed or to be placed into an automated medication system by a pharmacy technician, which audit may include random sampling.

(2)           A bar code verification, electronic verification, or similar verification process shall be utilized to assure correct selection of drugs placed or to be placed into an automated medication system. The utilization of a bar code, electronic, or similar verification process shall require an initial quality assurance validation, followed by a quarterly quality assurance review by a pharmacist. When a bar code verification, electronic verification, or similar verification process is utilized as specified in this section, stocking and restocking functions may be performed by a pharmacy technician or by a registered nurse trained and authorized by the pharmacist-manager.

(c)  The pharmacist performing the quality assurance review shall maintain a record of the quality assurance process that occurred and the pharmacist approval of the drug stocking, restocking or verification process.

(d)  Medication Reuse. Any drug that has been removed from the automated medication system shall not be replaced into the system unless:

(1)           the drug's purity, packaging, and labeling have been examined according to policies and procedures established by the pharmacist-manager to determine that reuse of the drug is appropriate; or

(2)           specific drugs, such as multi-dose vials, have been exempted by the Multidisciplinary Committee.

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

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.