N.H. Admin. Code § He-P 810.17

Current through Register No. 50, December 12, 2024

Section He-P 810.17 - Medications

(a) If the licensee maintains a pharmacy on the licensed premises it shall comply with RSA 318.

(b) All prescription medications listed under He-P 810.16(p) may be maintained as stock medications at the birthing center.

(c) The licensed practitioner shall approve all over-the-counter medications taken by clients at the birthing center.

(d) All medications shall be administered in accordance with the orders of the licensed practitioner or other professional with prescriptive powers.

(e) Licensees shall maintain either the original, or a copy of the original written order in the client's record, signed by a licensed practitioner or other individual authorized by law, for each prescription medication being taken at the birthing center.

(f) Each prescription medication shall legibly display the following information:

(1) The client's name, unless it is a stock medication as allowed in (b) above;

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

(3) The frequency of administration;

(4) The indications for usage of all PRN medications;

(5) The date ordered; and

(6) The name of the prescribing practitioner.

(g) Except for stock medications identified in He-P 810.16(p) , the label of all medication containers maintained in the birthing center shall match the current written orders of the licensed practitioner.

(h) Only a pharmacist shall make changes to prescription medication container labels.

(i) Any change or discontinuation of medications taken at the birthing center shall be pursuant to a written order from a licensed practitioner or other individual authorized by law.

(j) All prescription medication not ordered, approved, or labeled for a specific client, including but not limited to pharmaceutical samples, which is stored at the birthing center, shall be the responsibility of the medical director.

(k) All verbal orders from an authorized prescriber, including but not limited to telephone orders, shall be taken by a licensed person such as a nurse or other licensed health care professional, if such action is within the scope of their practice act, and immediately transcribed and signed by the individual taking the order, and shall be counter-signed by the authorized prescriber within 48 hours.

(l) The medication storage area shall be:

(1) Locked and accessible only to authorized personnel;

(2) Clean, organized in a fashion to ensure correct identification of each client's medication(s), and have lighting adequate to read all medication labels; and

(3) Equipped to maintain medication at the proper temperature.

(m) Medication kept at the birthing center shall be kept in the original containers as dispensed by the pharmacy and properly closed after each use.

(n) Topical liquids, ointments, creams, or powder forms of products shall be stored separately from oral, optic, ophthalmic, and parenteral products.

(o) Controlled drugs, as defined by RSA 318-B: 1, VI, stored in a central storage area of the birthing center shall be:

(1) Kept in a separately locked compartment within the locked medication storage area; and

(2) Accessible only to authorized personnel.

(p) Except as allowed by (r) below, any contaminated, expired, or discontinued medication shall be destroyed within 30 days.

(q) The destruction of contaminated, expired, or discontinued medication under (p) above shall:

(1) Be accomplished in the presence of at least 2 people; and

(2) Be documented in the record of the client.

(r) Medication(s) may be returned to pharmacies for credit only under the provisions of Ph 704.07.

(s) Upon discharge or transfer, the licensee shall make the client's current medications available to take with them.

(t) The department shall order a birthing center to obtain the routine services of a consultant pharmacist for 12 months if areas of noncompliance regarding medications, which the department determines present a potential risk to clients' health, are found during any inspection or investigation.

(u) Only individuals authorized by law shall administer medications to clients.

(v) Medication shall be prepared immediately prior to administration and shall be prepared, identified, and administered by the same person in compliance with RSA 318 and RSA 326-B.

(w) When administering medication, personnel shall remain with the client until the client has taken all of the medication.

(x) The licensee shall maintain a written record for each medication taken by the client at the birthing center, containing the following information:

(1) Any allergies or allergic reaction to medication;

(2) The name and strength of the medication;

(3) The dose taken by the client;

(4) The route of administration, if other than by mouth;

(5) The signature and identifiable initials and job title of:

a. The person administering the medication; and

b. The person supervising or assisting the client taking his or her medication;

(6) Documented reason for any medication refused or omitted; and

(7) For PRN medications, the reason the client required the medication and the effect of the PRN medication.

N.H. Admin. Code § He-P 810.17

#8957, eff 7-27-07

Amended by Volume XXXVI Number 36, Filed September 8, 2016, Proposed by #11161, Effective 8/20/2016, Expires 8/20/2026.