(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Electronic technology” or “telepharmacy” means the process: (A) By which each step involved in the dispensing of a sterile product is verified through use of a bar code tracking system and documented by means of digital photographs which are electronically recorded and preserved; and (B) which is monitored and verified through video and audio communication between a licensed supervising pharmacist and a pharmacy technician;
(2) “Sterile product” means any drug, as that term is defined in section 20-571, that is compounded, manipulated or otherwise prepared under sterile conditions during the dispensing process, is not intended for self-administration by a patient and is intended to be used in a hospital, or its satellite, remote or affiliated office-based locations;
(3) “Pharmacist” means an individual who is licensed to practice pharmacy under the provisions of section 20-590, 20-591, 20-592 or 20-593 and who is thereby recognized as a health care provider by the state of Connecticut; and
(4) “Pharmacy technician” means an individual who is registered with the department and qualified in accordance with section 20-598a.
(b) A hospital, licensed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 368v, which operates a hospital pharmacy, may use electronic technology or telepharmacy at the hospital and at the hospital's satellite or remote locations for purposes of allowing a pharmacist to supervise pharmacy technicians in the dispensing of sterile products. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter or regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, a pharmacist shall be permitted to supervise a pharmacy technician through use of electronic technology, and under such supervision the pharmacist shall monitor and verify the activities of a pharmacy technician through audio and video communication. The pharmacist-to-technician ratio pursuant to section 20-576-33 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies shall apply. In the event of a malfunction of the electronic technology, no sterile product prepared by a pharmacy technician during the time period of the malfunction may be distributed to patients, unless a licensed pharmacist is able to: (1) Personally review and verify the accuracy of all processes utilized in the dispensing of the sterile product; or (2) upon the restoration of the electronic technology, utilize the mechanisms of the electronic technology which recorded the actions of the pharmacy technician to confirm that all proper steps were followed in the dispensing of the sterile product. All orders for sterile products to be dispensed using telepharmacy shall be verified by a pharmacist prior to being delegated to a pharmacy technician for such dispensing. A hospital shall ensure that appropriately licensed personnel administer medications dispensed using telepharmacy. All of the processes involved in a hospital's use of telepharmacy shall be under the purview of the hospital's director of pharmacy.
(c) A hospital using telepharmacy shall undertake periodic quality assurance evaluations, not less than once per calendar quarter, which shall include, upon discovery, prompt review of any error in medication administration which occurs where telepharmacy is used to dispense such medication. A hospital shall make such quality assurance evaluations available for review and inspection by the Departments of Consumer Protection and Public Health.
(P.A. 11-242, S. 50; P.A. 12-28, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 11-242 effective July 13, 2011; P.A. 12-28 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “electronic technology” or “telepharmacy” in Subdiv. (1) and replacing definition of “IV admixture” with definition of “sterile product” in Subdiv. (2), amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provisions re pilot program, adding provisions re use of telepharmacy, replacing provisions re IV admixture with provisions re sterile product and adding provision re pharmacist-to-technician ratio, amended Subsec. (c) by deleting provisions re pilot program, adding provisions re use of telepharmacy and adding provision requiring quality assurance evaluations not less than once per calendar quarter, and deleted former Subsec. (d) re commencement and termination of pilot program, effective July 1, 2012.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Section 20-570. - Short title: Pharmacy Practice Act.
Section 20-571. (Formerly Sec. 20-184a). - Definitions.
Section 20-572. (Formerly Sec. 20-163). - Commission of Pharmacy. Appointment and term of members.
Section 20-573. (Formerly Sec. 20-165). - Meetings of commission. Records.
Section 20-574. (Formerly Sec. 20-164a). - Supervision by Commissioner of Consumer Protection.
Section 20-575. - Powers and responsibilities.
Section 20-576. (Formerly Sec. 20-164). - Regulations.
Section 20-576a. - Acceptance and disposal of unused prescription drugs at pharmacies. Regulations.
Section 20-578. (Formerly Sec. 21a-306). - Information not to be disclosed. Exception.
Section 20-580. (Formerly Sec. 20-167). - Revocation or suspension of nonlegend drug permit.
Section 20-581. (Formerly Sec. 20-185). - Penalty for violation of Pharmacy Practice Act. Exception.
Section 20-582. (Formerly Sec. 20-176). - Appeals of decisions of Commission of Pharmacy.
Section 20-583. - Where appeals returnable.
Section 20-591. - Graduates of foreign pharmacy schools. Regulations.
Section 20-596. (Formerly Sec. 20-168b). - Ownership of pharmacies by prescribing practitioners.
Section 20-598. (Formerly Sec. 20-177). - Registration of pharmacy interns.
Section 20-598a. - Registration and certification of pharmacy technicians.
Section 20-599. (Formerly Sec. 20-174a). - Continuing education: Definitions.
Section 20-605. - Practice of pharmacy without license or temporary permit prohibited.
Section 20-606. (Formerly Sec. 20-178). - Use of the title “pharmacist”.
Section 20-611. (Formerly Sec. 20-175b). - Advertising legend drug prices.
Section 20-612. - Only pharmacy may accept prescription for dispensing.
Section 20-617a. - Flavoring agent added to prescription product.
Section 20-618. (Formerly Sec. 21a-107). - Repackaged drugs not considered misbranded, when.
Section 20-623. - Sale of nonlegend drugs. Labels, packaging and contents. Penalty.
Section 20-624. - Permit to sell nonlegend drugs.
Section 20-625. - Nonlegend veterinary drugs.
Section 20-626. - Confidentiality of pharmacy records.
Section 20-627. - Nonresident pharmacy. Definitions. Certificate of registration. Requirements.
Section 20-628. - Shipping, mailing or delivering legend devices or drugs.
Section 20-630. - Advertising.
Section 20-633. - Administration of vaccines by licensed pharmacists. Regulations.
Section 20-633a. - Pharmacy rewards program. Plain language summary. Violation.
Section 20-633b. - Sterile compounding pharmacies. Requirements. Regulations.
Section 20-633c. - Prescribing of opioid antagonists by licensed pharmacists. Regulations.
Section 20-633i. - Issuance of prescriptions for epinephrine auto injectors by pharmacists.
Section 20-636. - Sign re storage and disposal of prescription drugs.