Standards Q&A: Control and Accountability of Non-OTC Meds

Q: Does NCCHC require facilities to follow a specific way to account for/record their control and accountability for non-over-the-counter medications?

A: NCCHC does not require facilities to follow a specific medication accountability system for their medications. NCCHC does, however, require facilities to show evidence of how they account for adequate control and accountability of applicable medications within their facility. Whether it is logging each individual pill on the back of a blister card or log sheet, using a pharmacy-provided gun to scan each medication barcode every time the medication is dispensed, using a medication-dispensing machine that requires a patient’s name/identifier in order for the machine to dispense the medication, or utilizing another written form of documentation, there are many options a facility can implement. Inventory control and accountability measures should be in place to account for all non-OTC medications within the facility, including in medication rooms, medication carts, clinic areas, and dental suites, where applicable. 

Wendy Habert, MBA, CCHP, is NCCHC’s director of accreditation. Send your standards-related questions to [email protected].