657—7.7 (155A) Verification by pharmacist when pharmacy is closed. A hospital pharmacy may contract with another pharmacy for remote pharmacist preview and verification of patient-specific drugs or devices ordered for a patient when the hospital pharmacy is closed. Contracted services may include pharmacist order entry pursuant to subrule 7.8(3). Pharmacies entering into a contract or agreement pursuant to this rule shall comply with the following requirements:
	 7.7(1) Nonsupplanting service. A contract or agreement for remote pharmacist services shall not relieve the hospital pharmacy from employing or contracting with a pharmacist to provide routine pharmacy services within the facility. The activities authorized by this rule are intended to supplement hospital pharmacy services when the pharmacy is closed and are not intended to eliminate the need for an on-site hospital pharmacy or pharmacist.
	 7.7(2) Hospital-staff pharmacist. Nothing in this rule shall prohibit a pharmacist employed by or contracting with a hospital pharmacy for on-site services from also providing remote preview and verification of patient-specific drugs or devices ordered for a patient when the hospital pharmacy is closed. A pharmacist previewing and verifying drug or device orders from a remote location shall have access to patient information pursuant to subrule 7.7(4) or 7.7(5), shall have access to the prescriber as provided in subrule 7.7(6), and shall be identified on the drug or device order as provided in subrule 7.7(7).
	 7.7(3) Licenses required. A pharmacy contracting with a hospital pharmacy to provide services pursuant to this rule shall maintain with the board a current Iowa pharmacy license. A remote pharmacist providing pharmacy services as an employee or agent of a contracting pharmacy pursuant to this rule shall be licensed to practice pharmacy in Iowa.
	 7.7(4) Electronic access to patient information. The remote pharmacist shall have secure electronic access to the hospital pharmacy’s patient information system and to all other electronic systems that the on-site pharmacist has access to when the pharmacy is open. The remote pharmacist shall receive training in the use of the hospital’s electronic systems.
	 7.7(5) Nonelectronic patient information. If a hospital’s patient information is not maintained in an electronic data system or if the hospital pharmacy is not able to provide remote electronic access to the patient information system, the hospital pharmacy may petition for a waiver of subrule 7.7(4) pursuant to 657—Chapter 34 and this subrule. In addition to the information required pursuant to 657—Chapter 34, the petition for waiver shall identify the hospital pharmacy’s alternative to the electronic sharing of patient information, shall explain in detail how the alternative method will ensure timely provision of patient information necessary for the remote pharmacist to effectively review the patient’s drug regimen and history, and shall detail the processes involved in the alternative proposal including identification of all individuals involved in each of those processes.
	 7.7(6) Access to prescriber. The remote pharmacist shall be able to contact the prescriber to discuss any concerns identified during the pharmacist’s review of the patient’s information.
	 7.7(7) Pharmacist identified. The record of each patient-specific drug or device order processed pursuant to this rule shall identify, by name or other unique identifier, each pharmacist involved in the preview and verification of the order.