[Index]

5.5 PATIENT'S OWN MEDICATION

POLICY

1.     Outpatients attending an outpatient clinic/unit (eg.  Renal Dialysis Unit, Psoriasis Clinic, STAT centre day care) may use their own medication provided the physician has specified these in the health record.  No documentation of administration is required.

 2.    Inpatients may use their own medication if the drug is not on the VH Formulary and the physician or pharmacist has written in the physicians’ orders that the patient may use their own medication.  These medications must be identified by the hospital pharmacy prior to administration.  Documentation of administration is required on the MAR.

 3.    Patients in the Same Day Admit Unit or Surgical Day Care Centre may take their own medications without prior identification by pharmacy provided that:
   a)   there is insufficient time prior to administration for the medication to be  identified by pharmacy.
   b)   there is a written physician’s order in the health record.
   c)   the patient’s self-administration of the medication is documented in the health record.

 PROCEDURE:  (for Policy 2 only)

 Physician:

 1.     Writes a complete order in the physician's orders.

 Physician or Pharmacist:

 2.     Indicates in the physician’s order that the patient may use own medication.

 Nurse:

 3.    Sends medication in a bag labelled with the "Please Identify" sticker to Pharmacy with a copy of the physician's order. 

 Pharmacy:

 4.     Identifies and labels the medication and returns it to the nursing unit. 

 Nurse:
 
5.    Stores the medication in the medication cupboard/cart or in the patient’s  medication cassette/drawer.
6.     Administers the medication as per the physician’s order.
7.    Returns patient’s own medication to patient on discharge.