MEDICATION REQUIREMENTS

MEDICATION REQUIREMENTS

POLICY The Ship Group Community Services shall not dispense medication. Only a physician or other practitioner licensed to do so can dispense medication. Procedures and safeguards have been instituted in accordance with sound medical practice when a medication that is known to present serious risk to the client is prescribed. Particular attention shall be given to the use of neuroleptic medications, a category of psychotropic drugs, which is used to treat schizophrenia and related disorders, examples of which are Chlorpromazine, Thioridazine and Haloperidol. The Ship Group Community Services will only monitor clients while self-administering medications that are prescribed and monitor that the client is able to self-administer medication safely (Certain exceptions apply to this rule based on program requirements i.e. Child/Adolescent Day Treatment programs, Assertive Community Treatment Team; See Appendix C for exceptions). Client may self-administer medication only if authorized by written order by the physician.

MEDICATION DISPOSAL

The Ship Group Community Services Care will not be responsible for disposal due to the fact that the agency does not store medication on site for the purposes of regular or periodic direct administration to clients. (Certain exceptions apply to this rule based on program requirements i.e. Child/Adolescent Day Treatment programs, Assertive Community Treatment Team; Medication Management. See Appendix C for exceptions).

MEDICATION STORAGE

The Ship Group Community Services will not be responsible for storage of client’s medications due to the fact that staff will not routinely administer medications to any clients. All medication shall be maintained by the client in a secure manner if approved by the physician to self-medicate. (Certain exceptions apply to this rule based on program requirements i.e. Child/Adolescent Day Treatment programs, Assertive Community Treatment Team; Medication Management. See Appendix C for exceptions).

MEDICATION EDUCATION

Each client started or maintained on a medication by an area program physician or other practitioner shall receive either oral or written education regarding the prescribed medication by the physician or their designee. In instances where the ability of the client to understand the education is questionable, a responsible person will be provided either oral or written instructions on behalf of the client.

The medication education provided shall be sufficient to enable the client or other responsible person to make an informed consent, to safely self-administer the medication and to encourage the compliance with the prescribed regimen.

The area program physician or designee will document that education for the prescribed medication was offered and either provided or declined. If provided, it shall be documented in what manner it was provided (either orally or written or both) and to whom (client or responsible person) and will be forwarded to The Ship Group Community Services to be documented in the client record.

Medication errors shall be recorded by The Ship Group Community Services staff as an internal incident.

AUTHORIZATION FOR AND FOLLOW UP LAB TESTS

The Psychiatrist/Physician will give a written order for all lab tests.

A copy of the lab test order will be placed in the lab/testing section of the client’s record.

When the Psychiatrist/Physician receives the lab results for review, a copy of the results will forwarded to Medical Records Personnel for review and placement in the client’s record.

Lab results filed in a client’s record will include:

▪ Name and date of test ordered

▪ Name of physician ordering tests

▪ Date and time specimen obtained

▪ Copy of the report of lab results