Controlled Substances, Medications in the Home and Disposal
Sets the Agency's policies for the procurement, storage, administration and disposal of drugs and biologicals (10A NCAC 13K .0802(f)): medications in the home are the patient's and family's property and are stored safely, staff encourage disposal of unused or discontinued medications and document every witnessed or reported disposal, the written controlled drug policy is given to and discussed with the patient and family when a controlled drug is first ordered, and trained hospice nurses dispose of controlled substances in the home only in the cases federal law allows.
- Policy number
- NC-HSP-MED-02
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- 10A NCAC 13K .0802(f)
- Library
- North Carolina hospice · 60 policies
- Category
- Clinical tasks
- Sections
- 21
In short
- When a controlled drug is first ordered, give the family our written policy, go over it with them and record that you did.
- Medications belong to the patient and family. Never take them out of the home.
- Teach the family to lock up controlled drugs, and count Schedule II drugs with them at each nursing visit.
- Encourage families to dispose of medications no longer needed, and record every disposal you see or are told about.
- Only a trained nurse may dispose of controlled drugs, and only after a death or when they have expired, with a witness.
- Report a count that does not match or any missing medication to the Director of Nursing the same day.
What's inside
21 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (10A NCAC 13K .0802(f)-(h); 42 CFR §418.106(e)(2))
- 5. When a Controlled Drug Is First Ordered
- 6. Keeping Medications Safe in the Home
- 7. Encouraging Disposal of Unused or Discontinued Medications
- 8. When an Agency Nurse May Dispose of Controlled Substances
- 9. How Disposal Is Done
- 10. When Disposal Is Declined or Not Allowed
- 11. Suspected Loss, Misuse or Diversion
- 12. Emergency Drug Kits and Comfort Medications
- 13. Patients in Facilities and Agency Facilities
- 14. Responsibilities
- 15. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 16. Staff Training
- 17. References
- 18. Related Policies and Forms
- 19. Approval
- 20. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- Show me where you gave this family your written policy on controlled drugs, discussed it, and documented that you did.
- How do you encourage families to dispose of medications that are no longer needed?
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