Newsletter

---

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

NEW BOARD MEMBER

Governor Michael Rounds has appointed pharmacist Marla Hayes to the South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy.  Marla’s appointment was effective January 22, 2009, and shall continue until October 1, 2011.

Marla graduated from South Dakota State University in 1987 and is continuing her education toward a PharmD degree through the University of Colorado.  She is currently employed at Vilas LTC Pharmacy in Pierre.  Her past work experience includes hospital, retail and regulatory pharmacy.  Marla lives in Presho with her husband Steve, daughter Jaime (16), and son Nicholas (12).  Her hobbies include quilting, gardening and music.

Marla replaces Duncan Murdy on the Board.  Duncan served as a member of the Board for over 12 years after his initial appointment in 1996 by Governor Janklow and reappointment by Governors Rounds.  He continues to serve the public as pharmacist and owner of Jones Drug and pharmacist at the Dakota Plains Surgical Center in Aberdeen. 

Members of the South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy are:
Jeffrey Nielsen, RPh, Sioux Falls — President
Arlene Ham-Burr, Rapid City — Public Member
Arvid Liebe, RPh, Milbank — Member
Stephen Statz, RPh, Sioux Falls — Member
Marla Hayes, RPh, Presho — Member

NEW REGISTERED PHARMACISTS

The following candidates recently met licensure requirements and were registered as pharmacists in South Dakota: James Gibbon, Tyler Lannoye, Andrew Johnson, Sara Redler, Troy Redler, and Kristin Williams.

PHARMACY LICENSES

New pharmacy licenses were recently issued to:

• Troy Redler, Redler’s Long Term Care Pharmacy LLC, Dakota Dunes, SD.
• Lora Van Dyke, Med Vantx, Inc., Sioux Falls, SD.

NEWS FROM THE BOARD

Pharmacists are invited to attend board meetings.  The planned meeting schedule for 2009 is: May 4 – Sioux Falls; August 6 – Sioux Falls; October 2 – Rapid City; December 11 – Sioux Falls.  The specific location and agenda for the meeting is posted on our website approximately 30 days before the meeting.  Board meetings are open to the public. 

Your input is valuable to the Board as we continue to review our administrative rules and make revisions to reflect the issues surrounding the changing practice of pharmacy.  Rule that are currently being reviewed are:

• 20:51:01  Registration by Examination
• 20:51:02  Internship Requirements
• 20:51:04  Registration by Reciprocity
• 20:51:15  Pharmacies in Hospitals, Nursing Facilities, or Related Facilities
• 20:51:26  Sterile Products for Home Care Patients
• 20:51:28  Administration of Influenza Immunizations
• 20:51:29  Registered Pharmacy Technicians

The Board welcomes suggestions for changes and additions to these rules that will maintain or enhance pharmacy practice regulations that protect the health and welfare of South Dakota consumers.  Please review these rules and contact Board members or staff with your questions or comments.  

NOTES FROM OUR INSPECTORS

• Public must be able to read required signs: Required signs must be posted where the public can easily read the information.
• Inspectors must be able to read posted licenses and permits: Please make sure that licenses and permits are posted at a readable distance and that all licenses and permit numbers are clearly visible.
• Documentation of Technician Training:  During inspections, inspectors will ask to see documentation of technician training.  Your pharmacy must have proper documentation of training for each technician.  When a technician is hired that has previously worked in another pharmacy, that technician still needs to be trained in the new pharmacy, and the training needs to be documented.
• Phone Call Identification:  All pharmacy technicians, interns or clerks must identify themselves as such on any phone calls initiated or received while performing pharmacy functions.
• Name Tags:  All pharmacy technicians, interns or clerks must wear a visible identification badge while on duty.  The badge must include their first name and title.

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES QUESTIONS

Looking for answers to controlled substances or DEA questions? The DEA has very helpful website: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/. The site contains lists of controlled substances by schedule, order forms, new regulations, Combat Methamphetamine regulations, and much more. Of particular interest to pharmacists is the “questions and answer” section. For example, this site addresses questions such as issuance of multiple prescriptions for CII medications, and information that can be clarified or changed on controlled substances prescriptions.

Institute for Safe Medication Practices

We remind all pharmacists that it is part of our responsibility as health professionals to assist in medication safety.  One way to do this is by reporting to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) any drug errors due to name mix-up, sound-alike medications, look-alike medications, etc.  If there are a significant number of these errors, the Food and Drug Administration or the manufacturer may take action.  They will only know of the problem if it is reported. 

To report any medication errors of this type, call ISMP at 1-800-324-5723 or report online at www.ismp.org.  ISMP guarantees the confidentiality and security of information received and respects a reporter’s wishes as to the level of detail included in publications.

Error-Prone Abbreviations

ISMP has identified a number of abbreviations that have been frequently misread, misinterpreted, and associated with medication administration and dispensing errors.  The following abbreviations should not be used when communicating medical or pharmaceutical information:

• U (unit): May be mistaken for number zero, number 4, or cc.  Write out “unit”.
• IU (international unit): May be mistaken for IV or number 10.  Write out “international unit”.
• QD (once daily): May be mistaken for QID.  Write out “Daily”.
• QOD (every other day): May be mistaken for QID or QD.  Write out “every other day”.
• Trailing zero (X.0 mg): Decimal point may be missed.  Do not use trailing zero.  Write “X mg”.
• Naked decimal point or lack of leading zero (.X mg):  Decimal point may be missed.  Use zero before decimal point and write out “0.X mg”.
• MSO4 and MgSO4 can be confused with one another.  Write out “morphine sulfate” or “magnesium sulfate”.

This is not a comprehensive list.  A more complete list can be found in ISMP’s web site at:  www.ismp.org/tools/errorproneabbreviations.pdf .

Alcohol or Drug Problem? Confidential Assistance is Available Call Maria Eining at 605-322-4048 If you are concerned about yourself or a colleague, please call the South Dakota Health Professionals Assistance Program (HPAP)  to discuss your concerns anonymously.  HPAP assists impaired pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to get the help they need without necessarily jeopardizing their license or registration.  Call Maria Eining at 605-322-4048.

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

State Home Page DOH Home Pharmacy Board Contact Accessibility Policy Disclaimer Privacy Policy