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CAPC Palliative Care Discussion Forum
General Operational Topics
Controlled Drugs/biologicals policyAuthor: marthaslack
Date: Nov 23, 2010 10:30 am
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One example of language from a hospice provider is as follows:
When a Hospice patient no longer has a need for a controlled substance i.e. the drug is discontinued by the physician or is remaining at the time of death, the RN Care Coordinator or designee will instruct the patient/family/caregiver to dispose of it. The RN Care Coordinator or designee documents in the clinical record that responsibility to do so. The Hospice nurse, medical social worker or counselor attending the death of a Hospice patient will inform the family/caregiver of the Hospice employee's responsibility to offer assistance with the disposal of all controlled drugs that were prescribed for the patient. The hospice employee will document assistance with disposal in a clinical note. Certified home health aides, homemakers and attendants cannot be instructed to dispose of medications. Contract pharmacists will be notified of hospice benefit patients' death to prevent further refill of controlled pharmaceuticals.
Information about the Hospice's policy on management and disposal of controlled drugs in the patient's home is provided verbally and in writing to patients, their representatives and family members at the time of admission in a manner that they understand. Provision and discussion of this information is documented in the patient's clinical record.
Federal Guidelines on the proper disposal of prescription drugs are available from the Office of National Drug Control Policy. State Health Departments and/or Departments of Environmental Conservation may also have publications describing how to dispose of drugs safely.
Amber Jones
CAPC Hospice Consultant