January 2008
South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy
4305 S Louise Ave, Suite 104, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY DENNIS JONES RETIRES
Dennis Jones retired in October after serving the people of South Dakota and the Board of Pharmacy for 20 years. Prior to accepting the executive role, he served as a Board member from 1987 to 1997. His experience as a practicing pharmacist, his understanding of regulatory issues and his relationships with other state Boards of Pharmacy will be greatly missed. He was instrumental in drafting legislation and rules for licensing non-resident pharmacies, wholesalers and technicians. Dennis served on numerous committees for the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and was always active in the SD Pharmacists Association and the SD Society of Health System Pharmacists.
Dennis is looking forward to having more time to spend fishing with grandsons, keeping the area duck population under control and working on his cabin in the Black Hills. We wish him and his wife, Karen, many good years of retirement living.
Pharmacy Inspector Ron Huether was selected by the Board to assume the Executive Secretary position.
NEW INSPECTOR JOINS STAFF
Earl McKinstry has joined the staff as one of our Pharmacy Inspectors. He will conduct inspections throughout the state but will work primarily in central and western South Dakota. He graduated from SDSU College of Pharmacy in 1966 and earned his M.S. in Hospital Pharmacy from North Dakota State University in 1970. Earl’s work experience includes Director of Pharmacy in several US Army hospitals; staff pharmacist in retail and hospital pharmacy in the Rapid City area; and the Director of the Pharmacy Technician Training Program at Western Dakota Technical Institute. His experience and leadership skills will be valuable in assisting pharmacists in their efforts to comply with laws, rules and regulations.
NEW REGISTERED PHARMACISTS
The following candidates recently met licensure requirements and were registered as pharmacists in South Dakota: Jess Haensel, Tessa Haggerty, Daniel Hansen, and Wayne Knisley.
PHARMACY LICENSES
New pharmacy licenses were recently issued to Randy Jones, Vet Pharm, Sioux Falls, SD (change of ownership); Chad Scholten, Spearfish Regional Surgery Center, Spearfish, SD (change of ownership); Angela Digatono, Avera McKennan dba Prince of Peace, Sioux Falls, SD.
CHANGE IN PRECEPTOR REQUIRES APPLICATION
Pharmacists are reminded to have their pharmacy interns submit a completed Practical Experience Application/Affidavit at the beginning of a new internship or when a change in preceptor occurs. The Board of Pharmacy may not approve hours accrued if the Practical Experience Application is not on file.
TELEPHARMACY RULES
The Board of Pharmacy rules for Telepharmacy are currently being developed. Comments and suggestions from pharmacists are requested. Please see the Board of Pharmacy web-site or call the office for information about the process.
PHARMACIST-IN-CHARGE TRANSFER
The Pharmacist-in-Charge Transfer Form is printed on the back of the Permit to Conduct a Pharmacy. When there is a change in this position the form must be completed by the new Pharmacist-in-Charge and sent to the Board of Pharmacy no less than 10 days before the transfer (see ARSD 20:51:06:06). Be sure to complete the Affidavit signed by the Non-Pharmacist Owner or Corporation Officer when applicable.
PRESCRIPTION FORMAT
The South Dakota Board of Pharmacy is aware that many pharmacists have issues with receiving inappropriately prepared or formatted prescriptions. The definition of a “prescription drug order” is a written or oral order of a practitioner for a drug or drug device for a specific patient. Everyone knows that prescriptions come not only as written or oral orders, but also as facsimile and digitally transmitted prescriptions. Regardless of how the pharmacist receives a prescription for a drug or drug device there are certain elements that the prescription must contain.
Controlled legend prescriptions must meet the prescription requirement of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The pharmacist must know the DEA requirements for a valid prescription. A prescription for a controlled substance must be dated and signed on the date when issued (plus the prescriber can also date the prescription for a date in the future and the prescription is not to be dispensed before that time). The prescription must include the patient’s full name and address. The practitioner must include their name, address, and registration number (DEA number) on the controlled substance prescription. The prescription must also include the drug name, strength, dosage form, quantity prescribed and directions for use and number of refills if not a Schedule II substance.
Where an oral prescription is not permitted, the prescription must be written in ink or indelible pencil or typewritten/computer generated and must be manually signed by the practitioner. An individual such as the prescriber’s secretary or nurse may be designated by the prescriber to prepare prescriptions for his/her signature. The practitioner is responsible for making sure that the prescription conforms in all essential respects to the law and regulations.
Prescriptions for non-controlled drugs do not require the prescriber’s registration number but many computer programs will not operate unless the DEA number is available.
In South Dakota the prescription format shall provide only a single line for the prescriber to sign. A practitioner may prohibit a pharmacist from selecting an equivalent drug product by handwriting on the prescription drug order the words “Brand Necessary” or words of similar meaning. The prohibition may not be preprinted or stamped on the prescription drug order. If an oral prescription is given to a pharmacist, the practitioner or practitioner’s agent shall instruct the pharmacist if selection of an equivalent drug product is prohibited. The pharmacist shall note the instructions on the file copy of the prescription drug order and file.
Pharmacists are encouraged to remind prescribers that not providing the required information, especially on controlled substance prescriptions, is a violation of federal law and can cause delays and problems filling their patients’ prescriptions.
No prescription blanks furnished to any prescriber can carry any advertising or the name of any registered pharmacy (ARSD 20:51:05:14). A prescriber shall not provide pre-signed blank prescriptions to anyone or leave with a pharmacist for anticipated future use or emergencies. This is a violation of federal law.
If a pharmacist knows of any prescriber still using two-line prescription pads, please advise them that they are not legal. If they would like to visit with the Board of Pharmacy, please provide them our phone number 605-362-2737.
CHANGE IN BOARD OF PHARMACY WEB-SITE
Recently the State of South Dakota made improvements to web-sites. The Board of Pharmacy staff will be improving and updating our web-site to make it more pertinent to all users. Please add the new address for the Board of Pharmacy to your favorites and check it regularly to keep up-to-date on board issues – www.doh.sd.gov/boards/pharmacy.
New items on the web-site:
BOARD OF PHARMACY STAFF DIRECTORY
Office Phone 605-362-2737 FAX 605-362-2738
Ron Huether, Executive Secretary
ronald.huether@state.sd.us
Rene Hixon, Senior Secretary rene.hixon@state.sd.us
Kim Kocmick-Burden, Secretary
kimberly.kocmick-burden@state.sd.us
Earl McKinstry, Pharmacy Inspector
earlm@dishmail.net
