Controlled Substances in the Home and Disposal at Death
Sets out the Agency’s written procedure under R.S. 40:2191 for the safe disposal of a deceased patient’s unused controlled substances by a hospice nurse at the time of death (witnessed record of each drug and quantity, immediate disposal at the site of care or immediate mail-back to an authorized collector, method recorded, no removal from the home), the copy of the policy given to each patient and representative at enrollment, the federal duty to give and discuss the policy when controlled drugs are first ordered, and safe use and storage of controlled substances in the home.
- Policy number
- LA-HSP-MED-02
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- R.S. 40:2191
- Library
- Louisiana hospice · 60 policies
- Category
- Clinical tasks
- Sections
- 19
In short
- At enrollment, give the patient and the healthcare representative a copy of our controlled substance disposal notice and document it.
- When a patient dies, the nurse records the name and amount of each unused controlled substance in front of a witness.
- The nurse disposes of the drugs at the home, or seals them in a mail-back envelope, in front of the witness, who signs the record.
- Never take a patient’s controlled substances out of the home, except a sealed mail-back envelope on its way to the collector.
- If the family declines disposal, do not take the drugs; give them written safe disposal information and record it.
What's inside
19 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (R.S. 40:2191)
- 5. At Enrollment and When Controlled Drugs Are First Ordered
- 6. Safe Use and Storage in the Home
- 7. Disposal at the Time of Death
- 8. Disposal Products and Methods
- 9. Other Disposal While the Patient Is Alive
- 10. Patients in Facilities
- 11. Training
- 12. Responsibilities
- 13. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 14. Staff Training
- 15. References
- 16. Related Policies and Forms
- 17. Approval
- 18. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- Show me where this patient and representative were given your controlled substance disposal policy at enrollment.
- When were controlled drugs first ordered for this patient, and where did you document that you gave and discussed the policy?
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