§ 77079.5. Pharmaceutical Services -Orders for Drugs.

(a) No drugs shall be administered except upon the order of a person lawfully authorized to prescribe for and treat human illness.

(b) All drug orders shall be written, dated, timed and signed by the person lawfully authorized to give such an order. The name, quantity or specific duration of therapy, dosage and time or frequency of administration of the drug and route of administration if other than oral shall be specified. “P.R.N.” orders shall also include the indication for the use of the drug.

(c) Verbal orders for drugs and treatment shall be received only by licensed nurses, psychiatric technicians, pharmacists, physicians and physician's assistants from their supervising physicians only. Such orders shall be recorded immediately in the patient's health record by the person receiving the order and shall include the date and time of the order. The order shall be signed by the prescriber within 24 hours excluding weekends and holidays.

(d) The signing of orders shall be by signature or a personal computer key. Signature stamps shall not be used.

HISTORY

1. New section filed 4-15-87, operative 5-15-87 (Register 87, No. 16).

2. Amendment of subsection (b) and amendment of Note filed 5-7-99; operative 6-6-99 (Register 99, No. 19).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Section 1275, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Section 1275.1, Health and Safety Code; Sections 650 and 651, Business and Professions Code.