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Minnesota Board of Pharmacy |
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Minnesota Board of Pharmacy |
DISCIPLINARY ACTIVITY
The Board took the following disciplinary actions concerning pharmacists between the dates of April 1, 2007 and June 15, 2007.
Connell, Julie. License # 115359. Ms. Connell admitted to engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a patient. She was reprimanded and placed on probation, for an indefinite period of time, until she successfully completes a professional boundaries course approved by the Board. She was also assessed a $500 civil penalty.
Gruenhagen, Bruce. License # 114458. Mr. Gruenhagen successfully completed his probation and the Board granted his petition for an unrestricted license.
Raths, Kathryn. License # 114856. Ms. Raths admitted to the theft of controlled substances from her employer and the unauthorized personal use of those drugs. Her license was suspended, but the suspension was stayed and she was placed on probation for three years or until she successfully completes a participation agreement with the Health Professional Services Program (HPSP), whichever is later. She was also assessed a $500 civil penalty.
Samuelson, Donald. License # 113507. Mr. Samuelson successfully completed his probation and the Board granted his petition for an unrestricted license.
Warren, Todd. License # 115234. Mr. Warren successfully completed his probation and the Board granted his petition for an unrestricted license.
The Board took the following disciplinary actions concerning technicians between the dates of April 1, 2007 and June 15, 2007.
The following pharmacy technicians had their registrations suspended: Tilseth, Sherry, Registration # 712920; Bayuk, Alexandria, Registration #713951.
Klass, Oren K. Registration # 700266. The Board issued an order rescinding the Order of Revocation that the Board issued earlier this year. The effect of the Rescission Order is to render the Revocation Order null and void. Therefore, Mr. Klass has a technician registration that is clear from any disciplinary action.
GOVERNOR PAWLENTY APPOINTS TWO TO BOARD OF PHARMACY
On May 16, Governor Tim Pawlenty announced the appointment of Karen Bergrud, and the reappointment of Carleton Crawford to the Board of Pharmacy. Both are appointed to a four-year term that expires January 3, 2011.
Ms. Bergrud, of Stewartville, has over 28 years of experience in the pharmacy field. She is the assistant director of pharmacy operations at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. In addition to her duties at Mayo, she is responsible for the operations of the central and satellite pharmacies at Saint Mary’s and Rochester Methodist hospitals. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from the University of Minnesota. She is a member of the Minnesota Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Ms. Bergrud is appointed as a pharmacist member and replaces Mr. Vernon Kassekert on the board.
Mr. Crawford, of Minneapolis, is the project manager and treasurer for C Cubed Home Design Inc., in Minneapolis. He previously worked as a designer, drafter and project manager for Shea Architects Inc. He received a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Carlton College in Northfield. Mr. Crawford is reappointed as a public member of the board.
BOARD SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR SURVEYOR POSITION.
The Governor and the Legislature approved the Board’s request for authority to create a new Pharmacy Surveyor (Inspector) position. The Board is now seeking applicants for the new position. Applicants must be licensed to practice pharmacy in Minnesota, or must qualify to obtain such licensure. At least five years of experience as a licensed pharmacist is desirable. Travel throughout the state is required. Pharmacists interested in applying for this position should contact the Board of Pharmacy for an application.
ADOPTION OF RULES PACKAGE
The Board of Pharmacy worked for over two years to update rules in many different areas. On Monday, May 14, 2007, a "Notice of Adopted Permanent Rules Relating to Pharmacy Regulations" was published in the Minnesota State Register. The rule changes originally proposed by the Board were published on October 2, 2006. Revisions to the language that was originally proposed were published on May 14, 2007. The two documents published in the State Register, taken together, comprise the official version of the rule changes. The rule changes listed in those two official documents went into effect on May 21, 2007.
Board staff has combined the two official documents into an unofficial, complete draft of rule changes that should be easier to follow. All three of those documents can be viewed on the Board’s website at: www.phcybrd.state.mn.us/rulemake06.htm. Pharmacists, technicians, interns and other persons working for businesses licensed by the Board are strongly encouraged to review the new rules.
Specific rule changes will be highlighted in the Board’s newsletter, starting with this edition. Information about rule changes concerning quality assurance and counseling is provided below.
CERTIFICATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
Pharmacists are reminded that there is a difference between certification and quality assurance, and that both are required per Minnesota Rules. Certification is the process by which one pharmacist or pharmacist-intern takes responsibility for ensuring that a prescription has been accurately filled and that a prospective drug utilization review has been completed. In certifying the completed prescription, the pharmacist or pharmacist-intern must:
A. check the original labeled container from which the medication was withdrawn;
B. check the labeling on the container in which the drug is to be dispensed;
C. check the contents of the container in which the drug is to be dispensed and the appearance of the total product;
D. review the patient's medication profile for purposes of conducting a prospective drug review and checking the accuracy of the addition to the profile of the medication dispensed; and
E. initial the prescription or other permanently maintained record.
Pharmacists using automated medication management dispensing systems must develop written policies and procedures which provide that all certification steps are performed and documented before the medication is distributed to the patient. These policies and procedures must available for inspection by the board.
The Board’s quality assurance rule requires pharmacies to have a procedure in place to ensure that prescription data is correctly entered into computers. A pharmacy must implement a written quality assurance plan that includes the pharmacist comparing the original written prescription or an image of the original written prescription, to the information entered into the computer, and documenting the completion and accuracy of this comparison with the date and initials of the pharmacist completing the task. This process must not occur prior to two hours after the prescription has been initially certified, unless it is completed by a second individual pharmacist as soon as possible after the initial certification has occurred. The process must be completed within 72 hours.
As an alternative, hospitals providing inpatient pharmacy services may elect instead to develop a plan to provide safeguards against errors being made and perpetuated due to inaccurate prescription data being entered into the pharmacy’s computer. This written quality assurance plan must be made available to the board surveyors upon request.
COUNSELING
Upon receipt of a new prescription or a new drug order, following a review of the patient's record, a pharmacist must personally initiate discussion of matters which in the professional judgment of the pharmacist will enhance or optimize drug therapy with each patient or the agent or caregiver of the patient. It is no longer acceptable for a designee, such as a clerk or technician, to make the offer to counsel on the pharmacist’s behalf. Instead, the pharmacist must personally initiate the counseling process. A patient has the right to refuse the pharmacist’s offer to counsel, but such refusal should be documented.
The counseling must be in person, whenever applicable, may be supplemented with written material, and must include appropriate elements of patient counseling, including:
(1). the name and description of the drug;
(2). the dosage form, dose, route of administration, and duration of drug therapy;
(3). intended use of the drug and expected action;
(4). special directions and precautions for preparation, administration, and use by the patient;
(5). common severe side effects, adverse effects, or interactions and therapeutic contraindications that may be encountered, including their avoidance, and the action required if they occur;
(6). techniques for self-monitoring of drug therapy;
(7). proper storage;
(8). prescription refill information;
(9). action to be taken in the event of a missed dose; and
(10). pharmacist comments relevant to the patient's drug therapy, including any other information peculiar to the specific patient or drug.
The pharmacist must counsel the patient on a refilled prescription if deemed necessary according to the pharmacist’s professional judgment. The consultation must be in person whenever applicable.
