Iowa Admin. Code r. 657-7.7

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024

Rule 657-7.7 - Verification by remote pharmacist

A hospital pharmacy may contract with an Iowa-licensed pharmacy or pharmacist for remote pharmacist services, including medication order entry and review, final product verification, and provision of drug information. Pharmacies and pharmacists entering into a contract or agreement pursuant to this rule shall comply with the following requirements:

(1)Nonsupplanting service. A contract or agreement for remote pharmacist services shall not relieve the hospital pharmacy from employing or contracting with a pharmacist to provide routine pharmacy services within the facility. The activities authorized by this rule are intended to supplement on-site hospital pharmacy services and are not intended to eliminate the need for an on-site hospital pharmacy or pharmacist. The activities authorized by this rule are intended to increase the availability of the pharmacist for involvement in clinical patient care activities when the pharmacy is open or to continue the provision of pharmacy services when the pharmacy is closed. The hospital pharmacy shall maintain records that demonstrate the directing of pharmacist activities to additional clinical patient care activities, and those records shall be available for inspection by the board or its authorized agent.

(2)Hospital-staff pharmacist. Nothing in this rule shall prohibit a pharmacist employed by or contracting with a hospital pharmacy for on-site services from also providing remote pharmacist services identified in this chapter in compliance with this rule.

(3)Licenses required. A pharmacy or pharmacist contracting with a hospital pharmacy to provide services pursuant to this rule shall maintain with the board a current Iowa pharmacy license or pharmacist license, respectively. A remote pharmacist providing pharmacy services as an employee or agent of a contracting pharmacy pursuant to this rule shall be licensed to practice pharmacy in Iowa.

(4)Remote access requirements. A pharmacist providing services from a remote location shall:

a. Have secure electronic access to the hospital's patient information system on which the pharmacist has been adequately trained,

b. Have access to the patient's health care team to discuss any concerns identified during the pharmacist's review of the patient's information or medication order,

c. Have secure access to any other electronic systems the pharmacist would otherwise have access to in the facility,

d. Have access to sufficient references to adequately meet the needs of the patients served, and

e. When involved in review or verification, be identified, by name or unique identifier and function performed, on the drug or device order.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 657-7.7

ARC 9408B, lAB 3/9/11, effective 4/13/11; ARC 0502C, lAB 12/12/12, effective 1/16/2013

Amended by IAB January 30, 2019/Volume XLI, Number 16, effective 3/6/2019