[Index]

4.11 THERAPEUTIC PASS MEDICATIONS

POLICY

Patients who are permitted by their physicians to leave the hospital for short periods may take required medications with them. Pass medications are limited to those drugs that are required to maintain continuity of care. Non-prescription PRN medication will not be supplied by the hospital.

PROCEDURES:

Physician:

1. The physician writes a complete prescription on the Physician's Order Form for the medication(s) the patient is to take while out on pass and indicates the expected leave time. For PRN orders, the number of doses must be specified.

Pharmacy:

2. At UBCH and GFS, the medications are dispensed by the pharmacist. At VGH, only liquid medications and narcotic and controlled drugs are dispensed by the pharmacist.

Nursing:

3. At VGH, the nurse provides a sufficient supply of drug from patient's ward supply for duration of pass utilizing specially marked envelopes, except for liquid medications and narcotic and controlled drugs which are dispensed by the pharmacist.
    
4. The nurse documents on the patient's record that the patient has received a supply of medications to self-administer while on pass and documents on the MAR “out on pass”