1. (a) A general acute care hospital, as defined in Health and Safety Code 1250(a), that has an ongoing clinical pharmacy program may allow pharmacy technicians to check the work of other pharmacy technicians in connection with the filling of floor and ward stock and unit dose distribution systems for patients admitted to the hospital whose orders have previously been reviewed and approved by a licensed pharmacist.

   1. (1) This section shall only apply to acute care inpatient hospital pharmacy settings.
   2. (2) Hospital pharmacies that have a technician checking technician program shall deploy pharmacists to the inpatient care setting to provide clinical services.

   Only inpatient hospital pharmacies as defined in 4029(a) that maintain a clinical pharmacy services program as described in 4052.1 may have a technician checking technician program as described. The pharmacy shall have on file a description of the clinical pharmacy program prior to initiating a technician checking technician program.

2. (b) Compounded or repackaged products must have been previously checked by a pharmacist and then may be used by the technician to fill unit dose distribution systems, and floor and ward stock.

3. (c) To ensure quality patient care and reduce medication errors, programs that use pharmacy technicians to check the work of other pharmacy technicians pursuant to this section must include the following components:

   1. (1) The overall operation of the program shall be the responsibility of the pharmacist-in-charge.
   2. (2) The program shall be under the direct supervision of a pharmacist and the parameters for the direct supervision shall be specified in the facility's policies and procedures.
   3. (3) The pharmacy technician who performs the checking function has received specialized and advanced training as prescribed in the policies and procedures of the facility.
   4. (4) To ensure quality there shall be ongoing evaluation of programs that use pharmacy technicians to check the work of other pharmacy technicians.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 4005 and 4115, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 4005, 4052.1 and 4115, Business and Professions Code.

History

1. New section filed 12-7-2006; operative 1-6-2007 (Register 2006, No. 49).

2. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a) and amending Note filed 12-18-2007 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2007, No. 51).