Dear Terraces families and friends-
In my last update, I had mentioned that the Department of Social Services, which oversees us, is enforcing a section of Title 22 that requires all over the counter (OTC) medications to be labeled with a doctor’s order. I’ve got a clarification that this applies only to what are known as PRN medications (medications taken “as needed”), both OTC and prescribed. Below, you’ll find the section as found in Title 22:
Department of Social Services
Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE)
Title 22
Section 87465(e)
For every prescription and nonprescription PRN medication for which the licensee provides assistance there shall be a signed, dated written order from a physician, on a prescription blank, maintained in the resident’s file, and a label on the medication. Both the physician’s order and the label shall contain at least all of the following information.
(1) The specific symptoms which indicate the need for the use of the medication.
(2) The exact dosage.
(3) The minimum number of hours between doses.
(4) The maximum number of doses allowed in each 24-hour period.The changes are effective immediately because this section protects residents against possible medication error which poses an immediate health and safety risk.
We do expect another unannounced visit from the Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) regarding our plan of correction in this matter.
Please make arrangement immediately to address this request, as failure to do so puts us out of compliance with state regulations. The easiest way to make this transition is to utilize our in-house pharmacy, Yorba Linda Pharmacy.
Thanks so much for your attention to this matter and let us know if you have any general questions or questions about using Yorba Linda.
Warmly,
Sam Baum
Community Relations Director