DRUG STORAGE, SUPPLY AND ADMINISTRATION – POLICY
(TAKEN FROM MAYFIELD MEDICAL CONNECTION’S PRACTICE POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL 2019 – REF 7.18)
Clinicians working from MMC ensure that medicines (including samples, vaccines and medical consumables) are acquired, stored, administered, supplied and disposed of in accordance with manufacturers’ directions and legislative requirements applicable to the state of NSW, where MMC is located.
MMC ensures that all Schedule 4, 2 & 3 medications are stored, prescribed and administered in line with the requirements of the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 No 31.
MMC does not keep any schedule 8 drugs onsite.
In line with accreditation standards MMC ensures that:
- Patients are informed about the purpose, importance, benefits and risks of their medicines and are made aware of their own responsibility to comply with the recommended treatment plan
- Clinicians can access current information on medicines and review our prescribing patterns in accordance with best available evidence
- Clinicians work towards maintaining a current and accurate medication list for their patients, especially those on multiple medications
- Clinicians can demonstrate how other health providers to whom they refer or hand over their patients can access an accurate medicines list
- the use by date of all drugs is checked on a systematic basis
- we observe the principles of correct patient identification
- at times, MMC will store patient’s medications on their behalf. All care is taken to guard the efficacy of these medications, but MMC does not take responsibility for spoilage or loss and ensures the patient is aware of potential risk.
DRUG STORAGE, SUPPLY AND ADMINISTRATION – PROCEDURE
To reduce the risk of errors when prescribing or referring, GPs ensure patient medication lists are up-to-date. Prior to prescribing or changing treatment our GPs and other clinicians clarify a patient’s current medicines list and known allergies. Single use medications are removed from patients’ records when they are no longer required. Care is taken with selecting the correct medication particularly when using ‘drop down’ boxes in electronic prescribing programs.
MMC encourages reviewing the medicines list with the patient to provide an opportunity to assess the patient’s compliance with a medication regime and to identify the need for any further education/support.
Where appropriate, GPs provide patients with a copy of their medicines list which is updated when their medicines are changed. It is useful to include all medicines (prescription and nonprescription medicines and complementary healthcare products, if known) on the medication list.
GPs make every attempt to be aware of the use of complementary medicines and the potential for side effects and drug interactions with conventional medicines. This is noted on letters of referral including those for hospital admissions.
All clinical staff ensure correct patient and patient record using three accepted patient identifiers, name, DOB, address & gender before administering any medications, or writing any prescriptions. When patients ask for a repeat of their medications without attending MMC we first obtain three accepted patient identifiers. We also correctly identify patients when they come to collect their prescriptions by asking three identifiers of the person collecting or by faxing the script directly to the pharmacy where identity is established before dispensing.
We help patients to understand the Medication purpose, options, benefits and risks. Where possible we use written material to support this.
Where patients cannot understand written language or where information is not available in the patient’s language, pictorial media or if appropriate, translators are used. It is particularly important that patients understand the difference between generic drugs and trade named drugs, so dosage problems are avoided.
Clinicians refer to the Therapeutic Guidelines and other references where appropriate. The use of the Home Medications Reviews for eligible patients is encouraged.
When storing medications owned by patients, MMC takes all care to preserve efficacy of these medications but does not take responsibility for spoilage or loss. When accepting custody of patient’s medications MMC team members:
- explain the potential risk to patients
- require the patient to sign that the risks are understood using the Medication (Private) Storage Agreement found in BP Templates
- enter the signed agreement in the patient notes
- mark the expiry date on the medication
- store the medication in the supply room, alphabetised to the patient’s surname
- monitor the medication towards expiry and notify the patient if expiry is due, adding these details to the register
Consumer information about MMC’s prescribing policy is available to patients on MMC website, displayed in the waiting room and available on enquiry to the MMC Administration Team.
