Virginia Law

A. The facility shall have, keep current, and implement a written plan for medication management. The facility's medication plan shall address procedures for administering medication and shall include:

1. Methods to ensure an understanding of the responsibilities associated with medication management;

2. Standard operating procedures, including the facility's standard dosing schedule and any general restrictions specific to the facility;

3. Methods to prevent the use of outdated, damaged, or contaminated medications;

4. Methods to ensure that each resident's prescription medications and any over-the-counter drugs and supplements ordered for the resident are filled and refilled in a timely manner to avoid missed dosages;

5. Methods for verifying that medication orders have been accurately transcribed to medication administration records (MARs) within 24 hours of receipt of a new order or change in an order;

6. Methods for monitoring medication administration and the effective use of the MARs for documentation;

7. Methods to ensure that MARs are maintained as part of the resident's record;

8. Methods to ensure accurate counts of all controlled substances whenever assigned medication administration staff changes;

9. Methods to ensure that staff who are responsible for administering medications meet the qualification requirements of 22VAC40-73-670;

10. Methods to ensure that staff who are responsible for administering medications are adequately supervised, including periodic direct observation of medication administration;

11. A plan for proper disposal of medication;

12. Methods to ensure that residents do not receive medications or dietary supplements to which they have known allergies;

13. Identification of the medication aide or the person licensed to administer drugs responsible for routinely communicating issues or observations related to medication administration to the prescribing physician or other prescriber;

14. Methods to ensure that staff who are responsible for administering medications are trained on the facility's medication management plan; and

15. Procedures for internal monitoring of the facility's conformance to the medication management plan.

B. The facility's written medication management plan requires approval by the department.

C. Subsequent changes shall be reviewed as part of the department's regular inspection process.

D. In addition to the facility's written medication management plan, the facility shall have readily accessible at least one pharmacy reference book, drug guide, or medication handbook for nurses that is no more than two years old as reference materials for staff who administer medications.