1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Chart order” means a lawful order entered on the chart or a medical record of a patient of a comprehensive care facility by an authorized prescriber or the authorized prescriber’s designated agent for a drug or device.

   2. (2) Comprehensive Care Facility.

      1. (a) “Comprehensive care facility” means a facility which admits patients suffering from disease, disabilities, or advanced age, requiring medical service and nursing service rendered by or under the supervision of a registered nurse.

      2. (b) “Comprehensive care facility” does not mean an establishment which provides only:

         1. (i) Acute care; or
         2. (ii) Assisted living care.

   3. (3) “Emergency drug kit” means a container or electronic storage system containing medications which:

      1. (a) May be required for the emergency need of a patient; and
      2. (b) Are not available from an authorized source in a timely manner.

   4. (4) “Interim box” means a container or an electronic system holding minimal quantities of medications:

      1. (a) Agreed upon by the comprehensive care facility’s pharmaceutical services committee, as defined in COMAR 10.07.02.15; and
      2. (b) Intended to expedite immediate initiation of emergency or nonemergency dosing until the pharmacy is able to provide a regular supply.
   5. (5) “Licensed pharmacist” means a pharmacist who is licensed by the Board to practice pharmacy.

   6. (6) “Packaging” means the process by which a medication is:

      1. (a) Removed from a:

         1. (i) Non-patient specific manufacturer’s original container; or
         2. (ii) Patient specific container directly received from another pharmacy licensed in Maryland or operated by the government of the United States provided that the manufacturer’s name is present on the container; and
      2. (b) Placed into a new container by a licensed pharmacist or registered pharmacy technician under the supervision of a pharmacist.
   7. (7) “Pharmaceutical services” means the care within practice standards, laws, regulations, and guidelines which is afforded by a licensed pharmacist to the patients of a comprehensive care facility.
   8. (8) “Pharmacy” means a holder of a pharmacy permit issued by the Board, located either on the premises of or outside the comprehensive care facility and which provides pharmaceutical services to patients in a comprehensive care facility.
   9. (9) “Pharmacy area” means that portion of the licensed pharmacy where medication and other products requiring a prescription by federal or State law are stored and where the prescriptions are compounded or prepared.
   10. (10) “Registered pharmacy technician” means an individual who is registered with the Board to perform delegated pharmacy acts.
   11. (11) “Verbal order” means a directive that is orally communicated to a licensed pharmacist to accept a prescription order by a person who is authorized to communicate a prescription.
   12. (12) “Written order” means a directive that is directly written by an authorized prescriber or a transcription of an order from an authorized prescriber by a person authorized to transcribe an order.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§12-205, 12-301, 12-401, 12-403, 12-501, 12-503, 12-504, 12-505, 12-506, and 12-6B-01, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: October 7, 1996 (23:20 Md. R. 1424)

Chapter revised effective June 1, 2011 (38:11 Md. R. 671)

Regulation .03E amended effective September 16, 2013 (40:18 Md. R. 1479)

Regulation .07D, E amended effective April 2, 2012 (39:6 Md. R. 408)

Regulation .08B amended effective April 2, 2012 (39:6 Md. R. 408)

Regulation .09G amended effective September 16, 2013 (40:18 Md. R. 1479)