Newsletter

July 2009
South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy
4305 S Louise Ave, Suite 104, Sioux Falls, SD 57106

NEW REGISTERED PHARMACISTS

The following candidates recently met licensure requirements and were registered as pharmacists in South Dakota: Carol Born, Alex Chmura, Jaclyn Dvoracek, Michele Evans, Mark Mettlin, Jana Moen, Erin O’Leary, Matthew Olsen, Thomas Ryan, Tracy Swanstrom, Terrel Wiedenfeld and John Wiksen.

The following candidates recently met licensure requirements and were registered as pharmacists in South Dakota:  Danica Andela, Thomas Babb, Kelley Barber, Craig Beers, Lori Braaten, Jordon Breuer, Lindsey Brown, Shannon Cameron, Anne Chmura, Scott Crouse, Deanna Daum, Kristin Dvorak, Sara Fowler, Andrea Fuhrer, Tanya Gruntmeir, Rhonda Hammerquist, Gretchen Hinders, Sara Hoffman-Hicks, Nicole Musfelt, Daniel Peterson, Bradley Saathoff, Emily Sass, Melissa Schulte, Sandya Suri, Matthew Toennies, Trae Turner, Deanna Visser, John Walz, and Nicole Welch.

 PHARMACY LICENSES

A new pharmacy license was recently issued to Kristin Goehring, Goehring:  ; Jennifer Drexler, Cigna Tel-Drug, Sioux Falls; and Robert Lubke, Lewis Drug, Inc., dba Lewis Drug #13, Tea.Duncan Murdy, iSurgery, Aberdeen.

NEWS FROM THE BOARD

Pharmacists are invited to attend board meetings.  Board meetings are scheduled for:

               August 6 – Sioux Falls;

              October 2 – Rapid City;  

             December 11 – Sioux Falls. 

The specific location and agenda for the meeting will be posted on our website approximately 30 days before the meeting.  Board meetings are open to the public.  Minutes of past meetings are available on the website. 

Recent additions to the website:  Guidelines for After Hours Hospital Pharmacy Services; Policy Statements on Starter Packs and Remote Pick-up Sites.

E-PRESCRIBING AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

The Board frequently receives questions from pharmacists concerning the legal validity of controlled substance prescriptions that have been electronically “signed”.  Such prescriptions may have the electronically captured signature of the prescriber printed on them.  Or a phrase such as “electronically signed by the prescriber” may be printed on the prescription.  They are sometimes directly faxed to the pharmacy, sometimes sent via true e-prescribing to the pharmacy’s computer, and sometimes printed out and given to the patient.  Regardless of how an electronically “signed” controlled substance prescription arrives at the pharmacy, it is not legally valid.  Current federal laws and rules do not permit electronic signatures for controlled substance prescriptions.

Here is an excerpt of the DEA’s description of the rules that are currently in place.  This description clearly indicates that the DEA interprets current federal laws and rules to prohibit electronic signatures for controlled substances:

A pharmacist may dispense a Schedule III or IV controlled substance only pursuant to a written and manually signed prescription from an individual practitioner, which is presented directly or transmitted via facsimile to the pharmacist, or an oral prescription, when the pharmacist promptly reduces to writing containing all of the information required to be in a prescription, except the signature of the practioner (21 U.S.C. 829, 21 CFR 1306.21).

Schedule II controlled substance prescriptions must also be manually signed by the prescriber but can only be phoned or faxed to a pharmacy in the limited circumstances allowed under federal law and rules.     

A pharmacist that receives and electronically signed Schedule III or IV controlled substance prescription is allowed to contact the prescriber and take the prescription as an oral order.  The Board understands that it can be inconvenient and time-consuming to do this.    

It is anticipated that the DEA may adopt new rules for e-prescribing of Controlled this year.  However, until new rules are adopted pharmacists must obey the current laws and rules. 

PHARMACISTS – BANK CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS

Pharmacist license renewal time is right around the corner.  To avoid a last-minute panic finding continuing education certificates, you can accumulate and enter the hours on the board’s renewal site. 

To log in use the same method as renewing your license:

  1. Access the Board web site at www.pharmacy.sd.gov (new web address)

  2. Click on the “Pharmacists” button on the right

  3. Click on - On-line Renewal/Bank CE The log-in name is letters “nspharm” plus your 4-digit license number.  (Do not use the “R” if you have one in your license number).   The password is the letters “nspharm” and the last four digits of your SSN. You will have the option of changing your password if you wish.You can update any personal or employment information.  The phone number requires you to use dashes.  The dates should be in MM/DD/YYYY format.  If a required field is left blank you will get an error message to complete that field.  If you don’t have an entry for that field enter N/A.Click the continue button to go to the CE page.Enter each CE program, the date, and the year that you want it used and then click “apply”.  (Enter 2009 for the October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010 renewal year.)  The program will automatically add them for you.  Remember to use the MM/DD/YYYY format – this is probably the number one error people encounter.

  4. Hours earned after September 30, 2008 can be used for the 2010-2011 licensing year.

        Please contact the Board office at 605-362-2737 if you need assistance.

 

ERROR PREVENTION THROUGH BETTER COMMUNICATION

Your patients need to hear and understand what you are saying and you need to hear what the patient is both saying and not saying.  Breakdown of communication between the pharmacist and his or her patient could lead to a tragic medication error.  Here are some suggestions for better communication:

PHARMACY WORKFORCE FACTS

As of June 1, 2009 there were 227 pharmacies in South Dakota operating with full-time permits.  Counties with the most full-time pharmacies are: Minnehaha (53) and Pennington (25).  Currently 934 pharmacists are employed in South Dakota.  Cities where the most pharmacists work: Sioux Falls (384); Rapid City (98); Watertown (38); Aberdeen (37); Mitchell (27); Brookings (26); Yankton (26); and Pierre (20).  There are 1,381 pharmacy technicians registered with the Board: Sioux Falls (623); Rapid City (203); Aberdeen (58); Yankton (49); and Watertown (48). 

SPECIAL NOTICE ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

The South Dakota Board of Pharmacy Newsletter has been designated as an official method of notification to pharmacists licensed by the South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy.  Please read all Newsletters and keep them for future reference.  The Newsletters will be used in hearings as proof of notification.  Please contact the Board office at 605-362-2737 if you have questions about any article in the Newsletter.  Past Newsletters are also available on the Board’s Website.

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
Randy Jones, Pharmacy Inspector        randy.jones@state.sd.us
Board of  Pharmacy Website  www.pharmacy.sd.gov