Question

Which of the following would be an acceptable process to comply with the requirement that before use or administration of a medication brought into the hospital by a patient, his or her family, or a LIP, the hospital identifies the medication and visually evaluates the medication's integrity?

A. Medications are sent to teh pharmacy for review and then are returned to the nursing unit for administration. Nursing documents that this process has occurred on the medication order for the patient to take his or her own medication

B. A pharmacy staff member visually inspects the medication for particulates or discoloration and then adds a code/symbol in the medical record to indicate that it has been verified and is acceptable as labeled for safe administration

C. Medications are sent to the pharmacy, and the pharmacist adds a code/symbol on the medication container to indicate that it has been verified and is acceptable as labeled for safe administration

Answer 1

Pharmacy staff must visually inspect medication brought to the hospital by a patient or LIP, document its integrity and proper labeling in the patient's medical record to ensure safety, and comply with FDA regulations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process of ensuring that a medication brought into a hospital by a patient, their family, or a Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP) is safe for use involves several steps. One acceptable process is having pharmacy staff visually inspect the medication for any signs of tampering or degradation, such as particulates or discoloration, and then documenting this in the patient's medical record with a specific code or symbol indicating the medication has been verified. This process is critical for maintaining medication safety and adhering to hospital protocols.

Before any medication is used or administered, the pharmacy's role includes ensuring the integrity and proper labeling of the medication, protecting the safety of the patient. Identifying the medication correctly is also a necessary step to comply with regulations set by organizations like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which governs the drug approval process to ensure the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals.