Pharmacy

Drug Control Polices and procedures

for

City of Eagle Grove Department of E.M.S.

Contents:

Controlled Substances

A. Storage

B. Administration

C. Records

D. Disposal/Destruction

E. Outdated/Damaged Drugs

Medication Orders

Reports Required

A. Adverse Drug Reactions/Allergies

B. Variance/Incident Reports

C. Product Defects

Drug /Product Recalls

Inspections

Security

Controlled Substance

Purpose:

To provide for adequate storage, handling and documentation of controlled substance use by Eagle Grove EMS to meet Federal, State, EMS, and DEA regulations and to provide adequate safeguards to the patients and employees of Eagle Grove EMS.

Policy:

The Eagle Grove EMS representative, Eagle Grove EMS Medical Director and Clarion Hospital Pharmacy under a written agreement, will determine Controlled Substance that will be stocked for use by Eagle Grove EMS.

Storage-

All prescription medication shall be stored by Eagle Grove EMS in a secure, locked compartment. As with moist prescription medication, the storage condition should not expose the drugs to extreme light, heat (over 80 degrees), or cold (below 32 degrees) for greater than one hour at a time.

Administration-

An Eagle Grove EMS Paramedic or the Medical Director may administer drugs in this program. Those other than persons licensed to prescribe shall not administer drug or an IV infusion product without the written or verbal order of a Physician, Physician Designee or written protocol.

Records-

Clarion Hospital Pharmacy will provide an initial supply of all CS for Eagle Grove EMS, having assigned such drugs to Eagle Grove EMS and providing forms for periodic count verification and sign-out of such CS. Any use, breakage, loss, theft, or other decrease in inventory while under the care of Eagle Grove EMS shall be reported on forms and loss, theft, or unusual circumstances shall be reported immediately to the Clarion Hospital Pharmacy for review of storage. The Pharmacist shall be responsible for ensuring proper documentation of orders given and drugs administered.

Disposal/Destruction-

The disposal, wastage, or destruction of any CS shall be documented in writing and signed by two Eagle Grove EMS personnel. Outdated or unwanted CS shall be returned to Clarion Hospital Pharmacy for proper handling or replacement.

Outdated/Damaged Drugs-

Such drugs shall be kept in a secure area away from other usable medications until they can be properly disposed.

Medication Orders

Purpose:

To establish a procedure for proper handling of medication orders that result in the administration of any prescribed drug by an Eagle Grove EMS Paramedic on the Emergency Vehicle.

Policy:

All authorized orders will be reduced to writing on a form approved by the Eagle Grove EMS representative, Eagle Grove EMS Medical Director and Pharmacist. This documentation should occur as soon as it is feasible for the best interest of the patient to be done. This will include medication orders, other physician orders, verbal orders, and other derived from approved protocols of the Medical Director.

Following the administration of any medication supplied by the Clarion Hospital Pharmacy, a copy of a signed form shall be supplied to Clarion Hospital Pharmacy for verification. This will also serve as the beginning process to replace the drug to Eagle Grove EMS.

Reports Required

Purpose:

To ensure that all reports are completed that pertain to patient safety, errors, adverse drug reaction, and medication allergies.

Policy:

In the event that a patient receives a drug under this program, the attending Eagle Grove EMS employee shall fill out all forms appropriate to the situation. Such forms shall include but not limited to adverse drug reaction/allergy, variances, incident reports, and drug and infusion product defects.

Adverse Drug Reaction/Allergy-

This form shall be completed when patient experiences a symptom/side effect that is not anticipated that potentially affects the outcome of the patient’s care. This would include allergic reactions cardiac complications, respiratory difficulty, etc… Consultation with a Physician or the Pharmacist may be required by the Eagle Grove EMS to determine if an observed response to medication is considered an adverse reaction/allergy.

Variance/Incident Reports-

This form should be completed in the event that a patient

(Or other non-employee) experience a fall or other unusual circumstances while under the care of Eagle Grove EMS. Medication errors on the part of Eagle Grove EMS should also be reported.

Product defects-

Any time a devise, drug or machine exhibits an apparent flaw this form should be completed.

Drug/Product Recalls

Purpose:

To facilitate the removal of all products recalled from their possible use on a patient.

Policy:

Any product that the Clarion Hospital Pharmacy receives a recall notice on will be immediately removed from inventory. Eagle Grove EMS will be notified of such a recall, including lot numbers, product codes, etc. and directed to remove all such product immediately, Clarion Hospital Pharmacy will replace (when available) all such recalled stock.

Inspections

Purpose:

To ensure that medications are being stored properly and to assure that all medications are not expired or unusable.

Policy:

Each month, a Paramedic shall inspect all pharmaceuticals stored by the Eagle Grove EMS. These inspections will specifically look for out-dated medications, current temperature of the storage compartment, and drugs that appear to be discolored, precipitated, crumbling, or otherwise unsafe to administer. The results of such inspections are to be dated, signed and filed at Eagle Grove EMS with a copy sent to Clarion Hospital Pharmacy.

At least bi-annually, the Pharmacist will also inspect the medications, inventory adequacy, and storage conditions. Such an inspection will be documented at the Clarion Hospital Pharmacy.

Security

Purpose:

To ensure that all medications and medicated IV solution are secure from unauthorized personnel.

Policy:

All medicated IV solutions as well as any prescription and non-prescription oral and IV medication shall be kept in a secure, locked compartment.

Topical products for disinfecting, lubrication, etc, may be kept unlocked. Any Eagle Grove EMS Paramedic may carry keys for the CS compartment. ALL CS will be secured with a numbered lock and secured in a locked compartment (double locked) in the emergency vehicle.