Virginia Law

A. No medication, dietary supplement, diet, medical procedure, or treatment shall be started, changed, or discontinued by the facility without a valid order from a physician or other prescriber. Medications include prescription, over-the-counter, and sample medications.

B. Physician or other prescriber orders, both written and oral, for administration of all prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements shall include the name of the resident, the date of the order, the name of the drug, route, dosage, strength, how often medication is to be given, and identify the diagnosis, condition, or specific indications for administering each drug.

C. Physician's or other prescriber's oral orders shall:

1. Be charted by the individual who takes the order. That individual must be one of the following:

a. A licensed health care professional practicing within the scope of his profession; or

b. A medication aide.

2. Be reviewed and signed by a physician or other prescriber within 14 days.

D. Medication aides may not transmit an oral order to a pharmacy.

E. The resident's record shall contain the physician's or other prescriber's signed written order or a dated notation of the physician's or other prescriber's oral order. Orders shall be organized chronologically in the resident's record.

F. Whenever a resident is admitted to a hospital for treatment of any condition, the facility shall obtain new orders for all medications and treatments prior to or at the time of the resident's return to the facility. The facility shall ensure that the primary physician is aware of all medication orders and has documented any contact with the physician regarding the new orders.