Behavioral Health Services, Inc.
Subject: Detoxification – Chemical Dependency Recovery Hospitals Policy#: 4.5.14.8
Title: Storage of Medications
Effective Date of This Revision: January 9, 2009
Contact: Medical Director
310-679-9126
Administration
Applies to:
Officers
Other agents
Staff
Visitors
Student clinicians
Contractors
Volunteers
Subcontractors / Business Associates
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this document is to outline policy and procedures for storage of medications in the Detoxification Units of BHS’s Chemical Dependency Recovery Hospitals.
POLICY:
All drugs shall be stored in the locked medication room to which only authorized personnel have access, in accordance with local and state laws. Overflow stock shall be kept in locked storage area to which only the DON and the designated alternate RN shall have access. All drugs shall be stored in accordance with current established standards of the United States Pharmacopeia
so that their integrity, stability and potency are maintained.
PROCEDURES:
All medications must be labeled and identify the following:
Name of drug (trade or generic)
Strength
Lot number
Manufacturer (if labeled generically)
Expiration date
All medications should be labeled using the metric system. Conversion charts for metric
equivalent shall be posted at the medication preparation area.
New medications added to stock shall be rotated behind existing stock, so that older stock is used up first.
Outdated, contaminated, or defective drugs shall be removed from stock. These items shall be given to the DON, or the designated alternate RN, who shall store them in the overflow storage area until such time as they can be properly disposed of, according to Policy 4.5.14.14 on “Discontinued and Defective Medications.”
Drugs for external use and poisons shall be stored separately from drugs for oral or injection use.
Drugs that are stable at room temperature shall be stored between 59 and 86 degrees
Fahrenheit. Drugs shall not be stored in a refrigerator with food items. Drugs that require refrigeration shall be stored in a separate refrigerator and maintained at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
All stock prescription medications shall be stored in a storage area accessible only to personnel who have been authorized to oversee the self-administration of medication.
There shall be no bedside storage of medications. All medications shall be maintained in their original containers.
Drug preparation and storage areas shall be well lighted and shall be located where personnel will not be interrupted when handling drugs.
Antidote charts and the telephone number of the regional poison control center shall be kept in all drug storage and preparation areas. Metric-apothecaries’ weight and measure conversion charts shall be posted in each drug preparation area and wherever else they are needed.
The Consultant Pharmacist shall conduct monthly inspections of all areas where medications are stored to verify that the storage guidelines are followed. An inspection report shall be completed in writing and forwarded to the Administrator, the Director of Nursing, and the Medical Director. Records of the inspections shall be maintained for a period of three (3) years.
Detoxification - CDRHs Storage of Medications Policy # 4.5.14.8
Reviewed by: Medical Director, Directors of Nursing Review Date: 1/09/2009
Approved by: Board of Directors Approval Date: 1/09/2009
Effective Date 1/9/2009
Supersedes Policy/Date: 4.5.15.6 (Number change only)
