Existing law requires an institutional pharmacy in a hospital with 100 or more beds to be under the continuous supervision of a pharmacist during the time it is open for pharmaceutical services. (NRS 639.2324) Section 1 of this bill requires the pharmacist who is in charge of an institutional pharmacy at such a hospital that is privately operated or operated by a local government to ensure that an accurate record of medication is prepared by a pharmacist, pharmaceutical technician or intern pharmacist for each high-risk patient admitted to the hospital. Section 1 requires such a hospital to establish criteria to determine: (1) who qualifies as a high-risk patient; and (2) the time within which the record of medication for a high-risk patient must be completed. Existing law provides that: (1) any holder of a certificate, license, registration or permit issued pursuant to chapter 639 of NRS is subject to disciplinary action; and (2) any person who violates any provision of chapter 639 of NRS is guilty of a misdemeanor. (NRS 639.210, 639.310) Sections 1 and 2 of this bill provide that any person who violates a provision of section 1, or any institutional pharmacy that employs such a person or is located in a hospital that fails to establish the required criteria, is not guilty of a misdemeanor but is subject to disciplinary action.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 639.310
BDR: 639.310