09 LC 33
2896
House
Bill 361
By:
Representative Stephens of the
164th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 4 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to pharmacists and pharmacies, so as to enact the "Safe Medications Practice
Act"; to provide for a short title; to provide legislative intent; to provide
definitions; to provide for collaboration between physicians, hospital
pharmacists, and other clinical health care practitioners on drug management
therapy for a patient in an institutional setting; to provide for rules and
regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date;
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA
SECTION
1.
Chapter
4 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to pharmacists
and pharmacies, is amended by adding a new article to read as
follows:
"ARTICLE
13
26-4-210.
This
article shall be known and may be cited as the 'Safe Medications Practice
Act.'
26-4-211.
The
General Assembly finds and declares that:
(l)
Medications are essential for the effective treatment and prevention of illness
and disease, and medications, particularly dangerous drugs, are recognized to be
complex chemical compounds which may cause untoward side effects, adverse
reactions, and other undesirable and potentially harmful effects;
(2)
Pharmacists are highly trained medication therapy experts in the therapeutic use
of medications and a primary source of scientifically valid clinical expertise
and information regarding the safe, appropriate, and cost-effective use of
medications; and
(3)
Therefore, it is essential that physicians, pharmacists, and other clinical
health care practitioners in an institutional setting collaborate to promote
safe and effective medication therapy for the institution's
patients.
26-4-212.
As
used in this article, the term:
(1)
'Collaborate' means to work jointly with others.
(2)
'Hospital pharmacist' means a pharmacist that is employed by an institution and
practicing in an institutional setting.
(3)
'Institution' means those facilities defined in paragraph (18.1) of Code Section
26-4-5.
(4)
'Therapeutic' means treatment rendered to a patient for the prevention,
improvement, or cure of an illness or disease including the provision of
medication therapy.
26-4-213.
(a)
Physicians, hospital pharmacists, and other clinical health care practitioners
in an institution shall collaborate to the greatest extent practicable on
determining drug management therapy for a patient in such institution, utilizing
their unique knowledge bases. The intent of the collaboration shall be to
ensure the patient's safe and desirable medication therapy outcomes, to achieve
desired therapeutic goals, and to maximize medication safety. During this
collaboration, patients shall be evaluated for potential risks associated with
the use of dangerous drugs prior to beginning drug therapy and shall be
monitored through appropriate clinical review, evaluations, and testing to
prevent or minimize adverse drug events.
(b)
Hospital pharmacists shall be authorized to participate in drug therapy
management by protocol or other legal authority established or approved by a
member of the institution medical staff for the care and treatment of
patients.
26-4-214.
The
State Board of Pharmacy is authorized to establish rules and regulations
governing a pharmacist in the provision of clinical patient care and medication
therapy management in direct patient care settings, practicing independently, or
in consultation or collaboration with other clinical health care practitioners.
Such rules may include the utilization of a pharmacist's unique set of knowledge
and skills regarding dangerous drugs to promote medication safety and reduce the
risk of adverse drug reactions. Such rules may also include the regulation of a
pharmacist's involvement in optimizing patients' dangerous drug therapy through
clinical evaluation of patients to maximize safe medication therapy. Such rules
shall include the ordering of clinical laboratory tests in the institutional
setting and the interpretation of results related to medication
use."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective on January 1, 2010.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.