After Hours Prescription Filling

Implementation Date: 10/2021

Date of Last Review: 3/22/2023

Next Review Due: 3/21/2025

 

Reviewed by VTH Administrative Team: 10/2021

Reviewed by VTH Board: N/A

 

Reviewed by Legal Counsel: N/A

Reviewed by Biosecurity Subcommittee: N/A

Subject to modification by the VTH Director without approval.

Policy

The intent of this policy is to ensure all doctors with access to the Medication Dispensary are obtaining medications from the dispensary after hours appropriately and are meeting all legal requirements. Doctors filling medications after hours must pin off both the doctor and pharmacy worklists, and properly follow the procedures when filling and verifying. Medications and supplies must be logged in the After-Hours log. 

Guidelines

This applies to all doctors with access to the Medication Dispensary anytime they enter the dispensary to obtain medication.

Procedure (if applicable)

Non-Controlled Medication Entered into the HIS While Dispensary was Open

1. If the patient was in-hospital at the time the Dispensary closed, use swipe card entry to enter the Dispensary and obtain the medication from a blue bin above the front computer. If the medication is an injectable drug sold by the ml, obtain the label from the side of the Cubex machine and draw up the prescribed quantity.
2. Prior to leaving the dispensary, sign the After-Hours log on the counter to indicate that you entered and what you obtained.
3. If the patient was not checked in at the time the Dispensary closed, the medication is bagged and waiting at the SAC front desk.

Controlled Medication Entered into the HIS While Dispensary was Open

1. Use swipe card entry to enter the Dispensary and obtain the medication. If the medication is an injectable drug sold by the ml, obtain the label from the side of the Cubex machine and draw up the prescribed quantity.
2. If the medication is a controlled substance to go home, obtain it from the clear hanging bags.
   NOTE: controlled substances to go home may only be obtained immediately prior to discharge. In-hospital doses of controlled substances must be obtained from Cubex. 
3. Place the extra label on the controlled substance sign out log and date and initial that you took it.
4. Prior to leaving the dispensary, sign the After-Hours log on the counter to indicate that you entered and what you obtained.

Non-Controlled Medication Not Entered into the HIS While Dispensary was Open

1. Enter the prescription into the HIS like normal and pin on both the doctor worklist. 
2. Pin again from the pharmacy worklist by selecting ‘Fill/Print’ and entering your password to print the label. The default printer will be the one in the Dispensary. 
3. Enter the Dispensary using your iCard and sign the After-Hours log.
4. Fill and label the medication appropriately. There is a poster above the filling area and stickers placed on the bins to indicate which auxiliary labels are needed. There is also a med filling checklist posted above the dispensing area.

Controlled Medication Not Entered into the HIS While Dispensary was Open

1. Follow the After Hours Controls Policy to utilize the lockbox to dispense a 72 hour supply
   
   

Definitions (if applicable)

HIS : Health Information System

Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH): The collective clinical services of the Large Animal Clinic, Midwest Equine, the Small Animal Clinic, and the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic.