Service Recipient Medication Administration Requirements

(1) When supervising the self-administration of medication, the facility must consider the service recipient’s self-management skills and ability. (2) The facility must ensure that prescription medications are taken only by service recipients for whom they are prescribed and in accordance with the directions of a physician. (3) Discontinued and outdated medication and containers with worn, illegible, or missing labels must be disposed. (4) All medication errors, medication reactions, or suspected inappropriate medication use must be reported to the Medical Director of the facility who will report to the prescriber, if known. (5) Evidence of the current prescription of each medication taken by a service recipient must be maintained by the facility. (6) All direct service staff must be trained about medications used by the service recipient. This training must include information about the purpose and function of the medications, their major side effects and contraindications, and ways to recognize signs that medication is not being taken or is ineffective. (7) Staff must have access to medications at all times. (8) For any service recipient incapable of self-administration, all medications must be administered by personnel licensed to administer medication. (9) Schedule II medications must be stored within two (2) separately locked compartments at all times and be accessible only to staff in charge of administering medication. (10) All medications and other medical preparations intended for internal or external human use must be stored in sanitary and secure medicine cabinets or medication rooms. Such cabinet or medication rooms must be kept securely locked when not in use and the key must be in the possession of the supervising nurse or other authorized staff. Locks in doors to medicine cabinets and medication rooms must require an action on the part of staff to lock and unlock. (11) Staff must document each time a service recipient self-administers medication or refuses a medication. This documentation must include the date, time, medication name, and dosage, as well as over the counter medication. This documentation must be made on the medication log sheet in the service recipient’s chart.