After you have been hospitalized for a medication mistake, you may well wonder how this kind of error happened. Depending on where you live, there are several agencies that make it their business to find out—including the state pharmacy board.
The state pharmacy board conducts regular inspections of all licensed pharmacies within the state. Pharmacists are not allowed to deny an inspector access, and the pharmacy must pass the inspection to remain open to the public. In most cases, these inspections are merely routine; however, many such inspections have found incriminating evidence that has led to disciplinary action.
A state pharmacy board inspector must make sure the pharmacy is complying with laws and regulations regarding:
- Pharmacy staffing. Understaffing is a major concern, since lack of appropriate manpower is a common cause of prescription drug errors.
- Sanitary conditions. Inspectors will ensure that pills and liquids are handled in a sterile environment and that staff members use gloves when handling medications.
- Professional equipment, such as pill counters, containers, measuring devices, and computer databases can be inspected for quality control.
- Compliance standards. Pharmacies will be held accountable for any mandatory continuing education requirements in their particular state.
Unfortunately, many state pharmacy boards are understaffed, so pharmacies may go for years without having a proper inspection—leaving consumers at daily risk for experiencing a medication error.
Consumers have a right to know if their local pharmacy failed inspection. If someone you love experienced a medication error as a result of incompetent service or a lack of proper staffing, we can help. Call Kennedy Hodges today at (888) 526-7616 or fill out our online contact form to start your FREE case evaluation.
Want more information? Click the link on this page to receive a FREE copy of our report How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Your Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.