PHARMACIST STEVE

In autumn of 2014, the state of Oregon’s Board of Pharmacy enacted rules and regulations that hold corporations and non-pharmacist owners accountable to the Board of Pharmacy. These rules and regulations allow the BOP to suspend, restrict, or revoke the pharmacy license and/or impose monetary penalties on offending businesses, not the pharmacist. This rule also holds corporations accountable for medication errors that result from unsafe working conditions.

Every state BOP should follow the example of the Oregon BOP. Pharmacists across this country should be petitioning their local BOP to enact similar changes in their state. The BOP of every state should look into the unsafe working conditions and do something about it.

According to the Oregon Board of Pharmacy, the BOP may impose one or more of the following penalties, which include suspension, revocation, or restriction of the license of an outlet or may impose a civil penalty upon the outlet upon the following grounds:

1) Unprofessional conduct as defined in OAR-855-006-0005

2) Advertisement or solicitation that may jeopardize the health, safety, or welfare of the patient, including, but not limited to, advertising or soliciting that:
a) Is false, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading; or
b) Makes any claim regarding a professional service or product or the cost or price thereof, which cannot be substantiated by the licensee.

3) Failure to provide a working environment that protects the health, safety, and welfare of the patient which includes but is not limited to:
a) Sufficient personnel to prevent fatigue, distraction or other conditions that interfere with a pharmacist’s ability to practice with reasonable competency and safety.
b) Appropriate opportunities for uninterrupted rest periods and meal breaks.
c) Adequate time for a pharmacist to complete professional dutie s and responsibilities including, but not limited to:
A)! Utiliza tion Review;
B) Immunization;
C) Counseling;
D) Verification of the accuracy of a prescription; and
E) All other duties and responsibilities of a pharmacist as specified in Division 19 of this chapter. Introducing external factors such as productivity quotas or other programs to the extent that they interfere with the ability to provide appropriate professional services to the public. Incenting or inducing the transfer of a prescription absent of professional rationale.

Every pharmacist should start contacting their pharmacy organizations so as to petition each BOP to do the same in all states.