Arizona Administrative Code › Title 4 - PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS › Chapter 23 - BOARD OF PHARMACY › Article 6 - PERMITS AND DISTRIBUTION OF DRUGS › Section R4-23-609 - Pharmacy Area of Community Pharmacy

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 28, July 12, 2024
A. Minimum area of community pharmacy. The
				minimum area of a community pharmacy, the actual area primarily devoted to
				stocking drugs restricted to pharmacists, and to the compounding and dispensing
				of prescription medication, exclusive of office area or other support function
				area, shall not be less than 300 square feet. A maximum of three pharmacy
				personnel may practice or work simultaneously in the minimum area. The pharmacy
				permittee shall provide an additional 60 square feet of floor area for each
				additional pharmacist, graduate intern, pharmacy intern, pharmacy technician,
				pharmacy technician trainee, or support personnel who may practice or work
				simultaneously. All of the allotted square footage area, including adequate
				shelving, shall lend itself to efficient pharmaceutical practice and permit
				free movement and visual surveillance of personnel by the pharmacist.
B. Compounding and dispensing counter. On or
				after January 6, 2004, a pharmacy permit applicant or remodel or relocation
				applicant shall provide a compounding and dispensing counter that provides a
				minimum of three square feet of pharmacy counter working area of not less than
				16 inches in depth and 24 inches in length for the practice of one pharmacist,
				graduate intern, pharmacy intern, pharmacy technician, or pharmacy technician
				trainee. For each additional pharmacist, graduate intern, pharmacy intern,
				pharmacy technician, or pharmacy technician trainee practicing simultaneously,
				there shall be an additional three square feet of pharmacy counter working area
				of not less than 16 inches in depth and 24 inches in length. The Board shall
				determine a pharmacy's total required compounding and dispensing counter area
				by multiplying the maximum number of personnel allowed in the pharmacy area
				using the requirements specified in subsection (A) by three square feet per
				person. A pharmacy permittee or pharmacist-in-charge may operate the pharmacy
				with a total pharmacy counter working area specified in subsection (A) that is
				equal to the actual maximum number of pharmacists, graduate interns, pharmacy
				interns, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy technician trainees, working
				simultaneously in the pharmacy area times three square feet per
				person.
C. Working area for
				compounding and dispensing counter. The aisle floor area used by the
				pharmacist, graduate intern, pharmacy intern, pharmacy technician, or pharmacy
				technician trainee at the compounding and dispensing counter shall extend the
				full length of the counter and be clear and continuous for a minimum of 36
				inches from any counter, fixture, or structure.
D. Area for patient counseling. On or after
				April 1, 1995, a pharmacy permit applicant or remodel or relocation applicant
				shall provide a separate and distinct patient counseling area that provides
				patient privacy. This subsection does not apply to a pharmacy exempt from the
				requirements of
				R4-23-402(B).
E. Narcotic cabinet or safe. To prevent
				diversion, narcotics and other controlled substances may be:
1. Kept in a separate locked cabinet or safe,
				or
2. Dispersed throughout the
				pharmacy's prescription-only drug stock.