Each facility shall establish and practice methods and procedures for medication control that include the following:

1. (1) A requirement that each patient's prescribing physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner provide to the facility electronic or written signed orders for any medications taken by the patient; authorization for medications or drugs kept on the person or in the room of the patient; and release of medications;

2. (2) Provisions for proper storage of prescribed medications so that the medications are inaccessible to patients or visitors with requirements for:

   1. (a) Separate storage of poisons, topical medications, and oral medications;
   2. (b) Each patient's medication to be stored in the container in which it was originally received and not transferred to another container; and
   3. (c) A medication prescribed for one patient not to be administered to any other patient;

3. (3) Self-administration of medications to be accomplished with the supervision and within the scope of practice by a designated employee of the facility to include:

   1. (a) A description of the responsibilities of the patient, the patient's family members, and the facility staff; and
   2. (b) The provision of written educational material explaining to the patient and the patient's family the patient's rights and responsibilities associated with self-administration; and

4. (4) The proper disposition of medicines that are discontinued because of the discharge or death of the patient, because the drug is outdated, or because the prescription is no longer appropriate to the care of the patient.

   Methods and written policies and procedures shall be established to include the manner of issuance, proper storage, control, accountability, and administration of medications or drugs in accordance with pharmaceutical and nursing practices as well as professional standards.

Source: 42 SDR 51, effective October 13, 2015.

General Authority: SDCL 34-12-13(9).

Law Implemented: SDCL 34-12-13(9).