Pharmacy Practice and Operations Standards
PIC accountability
The pharmacist manager (PIC) is responsible for the pharmacy’s day-to-day compliance: security, storage, records, equipment, sanitation, and staff competency. The prescription department must be secured when a pharmacist is not on duty, and only authorized personnel may access it. Drugs must be stored under labeled conditions; outdated, recalled, adulterated, or damaged drugs must be removed from active stock and quarantined until disposition.
Operational systems
- Maintain a current policy and procedure manual covering dispensing, error prevention, recalls, returns, and emergency operations.
- Use a continuous quality improvement (CQI) program for medication errors: document, review, and act on errors and near misses.
- Calibrate and maintain equipment used for compounding and dispensing; keep records.
- Keep required references and current labeling/auxiliary supplies available.
- Control access to automated devices and high-risk drugs; assign unique user codes.
Worked example
A technician finds a bottle of insulin with an expiration date two months past. The correct response is not to move it to a “soon” shelf. The technician removes it from active inventory, quarantines it in a clearly labeled area, documents the removal, and the PIC arranges return or destruction under policy. The PIC also checks whether any expired stock was dispensed and reviews the stock-rotation process.
Traps
Treating the PIC as a title only; leaving the pharmacy unsecured during closed hours; keeping expired drugs in the dispensing area; lacking a written CQI program; and failing to document corrective action after an error.