Section 340.1655  Compliance with Licensed Prescriber's Orders

a)         All medications shall be given only upon the written, facsimile or electronic order of a licensed prescriber.  The facsimile or electronic orders of a licensed prescriber shall be authenticated by the licensed prescriber within 10 calendar days, in accordance with Section 340.1800.  All such orders shall have the handwritten signature (or unique identifier) of the licensed prescriber.  (Rubber stamp signatures are not acceptable.)  These medications shall be administered as prescribed by the licensed prescriber and at the designated time.

b)         Telephone orders may be taken by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or licensed pharmacist.  All such orders shall be immediately written on the resident's clinical record, or a telephone order form and signed by the nurse or pharmacist taking the order. These orders shall be countersigned by the licensed prescriber within ten calendar days.

c)         The staff pharmacist or consultant pharmacist shall review the medical record, including licensed prescriber's orders and laboratory test results, at least monthly and, based on their clinical experience and judgement, and Section 340.Table B, determine if there are irregularities that may cause adverse reactions, allergies, contraindications, medication errors or ineffectiveness.  This review shall be done at the facility and shall be documented in the clinical record.  Any irregularities noted shall be reported to the attending physician, the advisory physician, the director of nursing and the administrator and shall be acted upon.

d)         A medication order not specifically limiting the time or number of doses shall be automatically stopped in accordance with written policies approved by the pharmaceutical advisory committee.

e)         The resident's licensed prescriber shall be notified of medications about to be stopped so that the licensed prescriber may promptly renew such orders to avoid interruption of the resident's therapeutic regimen.

f)           The licensed prescriber shall approve the release of any medications to the resident, or person responsible for the resident's care, at the time of discharge or when the resident is going to be temporarily out of the facility at medication time.  Disposition of the medications shall be noted in the resident's clinical record.

(Source:  Amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 5903, effective April 01, 2003)