657—7.6 (124,155A) Security. The pharmacy shall be located in an area or areas that facilitate the provision of services to patients and shall be integrated with the facility’s communication and transportation systems. The following conditions must be met to ensure appropriate control over drugs and chemicals in the pharmacy:
	 7.6(1) Pharmacist responsibility. Each pharmacist, while on duty, shall be responsible for the security of the pharmacy area, including provisions for effective control against theft of, diversion of, or unauthorized access to drugs or devices, controlled substances, records for such drugs, and patient records as provided in 657—Chapter 21. Policies and procedures shall identify the minimum amount of time that a pharmacist is available at the hospital pharmacy.
	 7.6(2) Access when pharmacist absent. When the pharmacist is absent from the facility, the pharmacy is closed. Policies and procedures shall be established that identify who will have access to the pharmacy when the pharmacy is closed and the procedures to be followed for obtaining drugs, devices, and chemicals to fill an emergent need during the pharmacist’s absence.
	  a.   	 The pharmacist in charge may designate pharmacy technicians who may be present in the pharmacy to perform technical and nontechnical functions designated by the pharmacist in charge. Activities identified in paragraph “d” of this subrule may not be performed when the pharmacy is closed.
	  b.   	 If the pharmacist in charge has authorized the presence in the pharmacy of a pharmacy technician to perform designated functions when the pharmacy is closed, the technician may assist another authorized, licensed health care professional to locate a drug or device pursuant to an emergent need. The pharmacy technician may not dispense or deliver the drug, chemical, or device to the licensed health care professional. The licensed health care professional shall comply with established policies and procedures for obtaining drugs, devices, and chemicals when the pharmacy is closed. The licensed health care professional shall not ask or expect the pharmacy technician to verify that the appropriate drug, chemical, or device has been obtained from the pharmacy.
	  c.   	 A pharmacy technician who is present in the pharmacy when the pharmacy is closed shall prepare and maintain in the pharmacy a log identifying each period of time that the technician worked in the pharmacy while the pharmacy was closed and identifying each activity performed during that time period. Each entry shall be dated and each daily record shall be signed by the pharmacy technician who prepared the record. The log shall be periodically reviewed by the pharmacist in charge.
	  d.   	 Activities which shall not be performed by a pharmacy technician when the pharmacist is absent from the facility include:
	 (1) 	 Dispensing, delivering, or distributing any prescription drugs or devices to patients or others, including health care professionals, prior to pharmacist verification. Verification by a nurse or other licensed health care professional shall not supplant verification by a pharmacist.
	 (2) 	 Providing the final verification for the accuracy, validity, completeness, or appropriateness of a filled prescription or medication order.
	 (3) 	 Conducting prospective drug use review or evaluating a patient’s medication record for purposes identified in rule 657—8.21(155A).
	 (4) 	 Providing patient counseling, consultation, or drug information.
	 (5) 	 Making decisions that require a pharmacist’s professional judgment such as interpreting or applying information.
	 (6) 	 Preparing compounded drug products for immediate administration by other hospital staff or health care professionals without verification by a pharmacist.
	 7.6(3) Locked areas. All pharmacy areas where drugs or devices are maintained or stored and where a pharmacist is not continually present shall be locked.
	 7.6(4) Verification by pharmacist. When the pharmacy is open, patient-specific drugs or devices shall not be distributed prior to the pharmacist’s final verification and approval.
	 7.6(5) Drugs or devices in patient care areas. Drugs or devices maintained or stored in patient care areas shall be in locked storage unless the patient care unit is staffed by health care personnel and the medication area is visible to staff at all times.