ALABAMA BOARD OF PHARMACY

Donna C. Yeatman, R.Ph.

Executive Secretary

Location:

111 Village Street

Birmingham, AL 35242

(205) 981-2280

(205) 981-2330 Fax

www.albop.com

MEMBERS 2020

Ralph Sorrell, R.Ph.

President

Brenda Denson, PharmD

Vice President

Chris Phung, R.Ph.

Treasurer

Robert Colburn, Jr., R.Ph.

Christy Garmon, PharmD

March 13, 2020

To: Institutional/Hospital Pharmacies

From: Alabama Board of Pharmacy/Donna C. Yeatman, RPh

Date: March 13, 2020

RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) / National State of Emergency

In the event of reduced pharmacist staffing due to Coronavirus exposure/contact and to provide the best care for institutional patients in the state of Alabama, the Alabama Board of Pharmacy is implementing the following provisions until March 31, 2020 for institutional settings:

1) Remote order verification from a location outside the institutional facility (but within the state of Alabama) through a safe, secure and established technology to allow access to sufficient information necessary or required to process a non-dispensing function to perform the following:

a. Interpreting or clarifying prescription drug orders;

b. Data entering and transferring of prescription drug order information;

c. Performing drug utilization review;

d. Obtaining refill and substitution authorizations;

e. Performing therapeutic interventions: and

f. Providing clinical drug information concerning a patient's prescription

2) Supervising Pharmacists of the facilities are responsible for ensuring:

a. Compliance with all HIPPA standards and patient confidentiality;

b. Compliance with quality standards for remote activities by individuals authorized by their facilities;

c. Ensure pharmacist holds a current license in good standing with Alabama Board of Pharmacy.

3) Final verification of medication preparations and orders to be delivered or administered to a patient must be done by a pharmacist ONSITE.

4) Facilities should comply with CDC guidelines to manage and conserve supplies regarding compounded medications.

5) Pharmacists with a positive test for Coronavirus or exhibiting symptoms of the virus should NOT come to the institution for work and should NOT perform any pharmacy functions while ill.