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Have appropriate staff prepare morning medications
Pharmacy Regulation Resource, August 18, 2004
Be careful if nursing supervisors prepare medications for the day before the pharmacy opens. JCAHO surveyors may scrutinize this practice during your next survey.
Two-thirds of U.S. hospitals lack 24-hour pharmacy coverage, and many pharmacists in those hospitals must take time in the morning to review orders from the overnight hours, taking them away from other clinical duties.
But you shouldn't rely on nursing supervisors to help reduce the burden of preparing medications, said Steve Bryant, practice director of accreditation and regulatory compliance services at the Marblehead, MA-based The Greeley Company, during the July 19 audioconference "Comply with the JCAHO's medication management standard 8.10: How to evaluate key risk points to improve your system." Having supervisors prepare medications due at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m.-before the pharmacy opens-could be a risky practice.
Tip: Determine who the most appropriate and qualified person is to mix the first medications of the day. That person is usually a pharmacist, Bryant said.
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