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| 10/13/2021 @ 4:42:00 PM
Post 1 of 9
Contributor: Alma Ildelfonso, Tonasket Family Medical Clinic
Hi, Does any RHC now and days carry sample drugs from manufacture representatives? If we are not able to carry sample drugs in a RHC clinic. Is there a law? or the reason? I have a provider who has questions regarding the sample drugs and how it can help out patient who live on a fixed income. 10/13/2021 @ 4:47:00 PM
Post 2 of 9
Contributor: Cassie Beesley, Springfield Clinic - Hillsboro East
There is no law that you cannot carry sample drugs in an RHC. You can keep and dispense samples. You must keep a log of what was received with date received, lot number, and quantity, etc. Then if your EMR allows you to document samples dispensed in order to pull report in event of recall you must do. Or if EMR does not allow that then you must keep a paper log of what was dispensed and to who. Need to have a process for checking samples monthly for expired meds.
[cid:image001.jpg@01D7C049.87120650] 10/13/2021 @ 5:03:00 PM
Post 3 of 9
Contributor: melinda.williams@coryellhealth.org
Ms. Beesley's response is perfect. I would add that you may want to consider additionally adding a method to track the number of incoming meds minus the number of dispense meds equal what you have on the shelf monthly (or weekly). I found frequently that medications were dispensed without being documented.
10/13/2021 @ 5:12:00 PM
Post 4 of 9
Contributor: terry.rffhc@gmail.com
We are thankful for our pharma reps and the samples provide. The samples
can be used for someone starting a medication but isn't sure if it will be helpful. for patients who are seen in the clinic after the local pharmacy has closed, and for people on fixed income. Pharma reps provide brief information updates on the medications they carry (2-5 minutes) and can help set patients up with low/no cost prescriptions of the medication they represent. We have a locked closet where our samples are stored. They are stored by condition (all heart meds together, all migraine meds together, etc). There is a notebook located in the closet with one page for each drug. We log in and shelve all medications that arrive. Our log contains the name of the medication at the top. Columns are: Date: Sample In (SI) or On Hand (O/H): Lot number: expiration date: and number of items being added. The sample closet is inventoried monthly to search for expired drugs. That search is noted for each drug in the search. Samples that leave the clinic are noted in each patient's EHR. We have used this system for many years, and it works very well. If you have more questions, I would be happy to talk to you further. -- 10/13/2021 @ 7:53:00 PM
Post 5 of 9
Contributor: Alma Ildelfonso, Tonasket Family Medical Clinic
Hi terry, I this different based on each state. I have heard and also seen in the state of Washington sample drugs were discontinued since the early 2000. 10/14/2021 @ 4:10:00 PM
Post 6 of 9
Contributor: Mary McAllister, Willapa Medical Clinic
Hi Alma, Our clinic is in the State of Washington and we have sample drugs. We do limit the amount and type of samples we take. Once we receive the samples they are logged into our "Sample Medication Log" binder. We have individual sheets for each type of sample medication. When the provider gives a patient a sample, the sample is labeled with instructions and is logged out of the sheet in the binder. It is then documented in the patients medical record (EHR). The samples are locked in a closet and are inventoried monthly.
10/14/2021 @ 4:36:00 PM
Post 7 of 9
10/14/2021 @ 4:49:00 PM
Post 8 of 9
Contributor: Karen Paolinelli, CARHC
We have sample drugs and a policy on how to monitor them
Appreciatively, 10/15/2021 @ 11:32:00 AM
Post 9 of 9
Contributor: corsonr@mvhealth.org
We still offer sample drugs - not scheduled drugs, though. We use the attached form in a log book. When samples come in, they are entered one page by lot number and expiration date, etc. Once a month the samples are inventoried for accuracy. Either the patient sticker and info is recorded when given to a patient and then documented in the patient's chart, or hand written on the log. We haven't had a survey for a while - are due for one, but this method passed with flying colors the last time. Hope this helps.
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