Section 657.40.4. TCT program requirements.

A TCT program shall be conducted in compliance with the following requirements.

       40.4(1) Training of checking technician. No certified pharmacy technician shall be designated or authorized by the pharmacist in charge or responsible pharmacist to perform, nor shall a certified pharmacy technician perform, the function of checking the work of another certified pharmacy technician without having received and satisfactorily completed the specialized and advanced training provided for in the pharmacy’s policies and procedures. The specialized training shall include the prevention, identification, and classification of medication errors. Training requirements shall include provisions for retraining of a checking technician who fails to maintain the level of competence necessary for the performance of authorized duties as demonstrated by the technician’s failure to satisfactorily meet ongoing evaluation and competency audits.

       40.4(2) Authorized checking functions. A certified pharmacy technician authorized by the pharmacist in charge or responsible pharmacist to check the work of another certified pharmacy technician may check activities relating to the filling of floor stock, unit dose distribution systems, proprietary bag and vial systems or manufactured premix intravenous products, and AMDS components for hospital and long-term care facility patients. Medication orders shall have previously been reviewed by a licensed pharmacist against the patient’s medication profile, and the prepared drugs shall be checked by at least one additional licensed health care professional in the facility at the time the drugs are administered to a patient. The checking function performed by the checking technician shall be limited to those types of drugs identified in the written TCT program plan, and the TCT program plan shall specifically describe the method for verifying cassette or drug bin fills.

       40.4(3) Certified pharmacy technician evaluation. The responsible pharmacist shall conduct continuous monitoring and evaluation of each certified pharmacy technician authorized to participate in the TCT program in order to ensure the continued competency of the certified pharmacy technicians and the safety of patients. As a component of the pharmacy’s continuous quality improvement program and except as otherwise specifically provided by these rules, errors shall be identified and records maintained as provided in rule 657—8.26(155A).

        a.           Periodic review and pharmacist check. Evaluation shall include periodic review and checking by the pharmacist of work checked by the checking technician and identification and documentation of all errors not identified and corrected by the checking technician.

        b.           Review of errors identified by pharmacist or checking technician. The responsible pharmacist shall review with all certified pharmacy technicians involved any errors identified during the evaluation and shall discuss procedures to ensure the errors are not repeated.

        c.          Review of errors identified following release by checking technician. The responsible pharmacist shall receive, evaluate, and review with all certified pharmacy technicians involved any errors identified by a health care professional, a certified medication aide, a patient, or any other individual following release of a drug by the checking technician.

       40.4(4) Records. The pharmacist in charge shall maintain in the pharmacy department a record for each certified pharmacy technician authorized by the pharmacist in charge or responsible pharmacist to participate in the TCT program. The record shall be available for inspection and copying by the board or its representatives and any other authorized agencies for two years beyond the term of the certified pharmacy technician’s employment. The record shall include:

        a.           The name of the certified pharmacy technician.

        b.           The date on which the certified pharmacy technician completed the site-specific training for participation in the TCT program.

        c.           The date on which the certified pharmacy technician was authorized to participate in the TCT program and the specific TCT program functions and tasks the certified pharmacy technician is authorized to perform.

        d.           If the certified pharmacy technician is authorized to check the work of other certified pharmacy technicians, the date on which the checking technician completed the specialized and advanced training as provided in policies and procedures.

        e.           The dates and results of all competency evaluations.

        f.            The dates of and reasons for any suspension or revocation of the certified pharmacy technician’s TCT program authorization, identification of corrective action or retraining completed, and the date of the subsequent reinstatement of the certified pharmacy technician’s TCT program authorization.

        g.           The dates of and reasons for any disciplinary action taken against the certified pharmacy technician in connection with the certified pharmacy technician’s performance of duties relating to the TCT program.

       40.4(5) TCT program evaluation. The pharmacist in charge shall maintain in the pharmacy department program evaluation records that demonstrate the redirection of pharmacist activities from distributive tasks to cognitive and patient care activities. The approximate amount of time each pharmacist spent on specific distributive tasks and on specific cognitive and patient care activities prior to implementation of the TCT program shall be documented in the program evaluation records and shall be maintained for the duration of the TCT program. Program evaluation records shall identify the specific cognitive and patient care activities and a summary of the approximate amount of time pharmacists spend on those activities as a result of implementation of the TCT program. TCT program evaluation records shall be updated at least semiannually and shall be available for inspection and copying by the board or its representatives and any other authorized agencies for two years following the date of the record.

[ARC 9783B, IAB 10/5/11, effective 11/9/11]