Ala. Admin. Code r. 680-X-2-.28 - Temporary Absences Of Pharmacists During Break And Meal Period
(1) This rule is to
allow pharmacists to have breaks and meal periods without unreasonably
impairing the ability of a pharmacy to remain open.
(2) In any pharmacy that is staffed by a
single pharmacist, the pharmacist may leave the pharmacy area or department,
temporarily, for breaks and meal periods without closing the pharmacy and
removing interns/externs and technicians from the pharmacy, if the pharmacist
reasonably believes that the security of the controlled substances will be
maintained in his or her absence.
(a) If, in
the professional judgment of the pharmacist, the pharmacist determines that the
pharmacy should be closed during his or her absence, then the pharmacist shall
close the pharmacy area or department and remove all interns/externs and
technicians from the pharmacy during his or her absence.
(3) During the pharmacist's temporary
absence, no prescription medication may be provided to a patient or to a
patient's agent unless the prescription medication is a new or refill
medication that the pharmacist has checked, released for furnishing to the
patient and was determined not to require the consultation of a
pharmacist.
(4) During such times
that the pharmacist is temporarily absent from the pharmacy area or department,
the interns/externs and technicians may continue to perform the
non-discretionary duties authorized to them by any applicable law or rule.
However, any duty performed by an intern/extern or technician shall be reviewed
by a pharmacist upon his or her return to the pharmacy.
(5) The temporary absence authorized by this
rule shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes. The pharmacist shall remain
within the facility during the break period and be available to handle all
emergency situations.
(6) The
pharmacy shall have written policies and procedures regarding the operations of
the pharmacy area or department during the temporary absence of the pharmacist
for breaks and meal periods. The policies and procedures shall include the
authorized duties of interns/externs and technicians, the pharmacist's
responsibility for maintaining the security of the pharmacy. The policies and
procedures shall be open to inspection by the Board or its designee at all
times during business hours.
Author: Jerry Moore, R. Ph., J.D., Executive Director
Notes
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, ยง 34-23-92.
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