This standard is designed to help ensure that residents who store medications in their units do so safely. In the intent statement for standard PS.1, examples are provided of health and wellness services that the assisted living community might provide. Consultant pharmacists and pharmacy providers often find that an immunization program is a good way to initiate a relationship with an assisted living facility. Presumably, they mean drug regimen review by a pharmacist. The assisted living community determines under what circumstances consultation with a qualified health care professional is obtained and provides access to these individuals.
Consultation occurs within a time frame necessary to meet the needs of the resident.
While this standard does not specifically address medications or pharmacy services, it could be used to address this issue in a general sense. If the assisted living community does not have an employee who is a trained health professional, and they are providing significant assistance or involvement with resident medications, consultation by a pharmacist to provide inservice training for staff and oversight of the medication use process in the facility would be especially important and beneficial. The intent statement says that this record should include prescription and nonprescription medications. The intent statement indicates that the assisted living community is expected to essentially meet the same standards as a nursing facility with respect to recordkeeping requirements for medications administered. In the overview of the infection control function, examples are provided of strategies that the assisted living community might use to reduce risks of infection.