Pharmacy Operations, Facilities, Equipment, and Drug Storage and Security
Facility standards
Know what a licensed pharmacy must have: adequate space, security, refrigeration for temperature-sensitive drugs, and a sink where required. Alaska rules govern facility licensure and inspections. The trap: assuming a facility can operate before licensure or after a change of location without notifying the Board.
Security and storage
Controlled substances must be stored securely, with access limited to authorized personnel. Know the requirements for locked storage, perpetual inventories where applicable, and the handling of outdated or recalled drugs. Temperature monitoring and the "do not use" segregation of expired stock are recurring points.
Records and retention
Prescription records must be retrievable and retained for the required period. The trap: destroying records too early or failing to maintain a retrievable system.
Traps
(1) Operating without a current facility license. (2) Failing to secure CS. (3) Ignoring temperature excursions. (4) Mixing expired stock with active inventory. (5) Incomplete or missing records.
Rule of thumb
If a drug is expired, recalled, or temperature-compromised, quarantine it immediately and document the action.
Worked example
A refrigerator fails overnight. The pharmacist must assess the excursion, quarantine affected stock, document, and not dispense until suitability is confirmed.