North Dakota Administrative Code › Title 61 - Pharmacy, Board of › Article 61-02 - Pharmacies › Chapter 61-02-02 - Building Standards for Pharmacies › Section 61-02-02-01 - Building standards for pharmacies

Current through Supplement No. 393, July, 2024
Any new pharmacy, or any existing pharmacy which is being
				  remodeled, except in the cases of institutional practice, must comply with the
				  following provisions:
1.
Approval of plans.
The prescription area, merchandising area,
				waiting area, storeroom, restroom, and all partitions, doors, windows, and
				fixtures shall be indicated on floor plans showing appropriate elevations
				submitted to the board at the time the application for a new pharmacy is filed,
				or prior to remodeling. Such plans shall be submitted to the board prior to
				proceeding with the new construction. Before a pharmacy permit is issued, the
				plans submitted must meet the approval of the board.
2.
Minimum size of the prescription
				area.
The minimum size of the prescription area, including adjacent
				patient consultation and information area and drug storage areas shall be not
				less than one thousand square feet [92.90 square meters], with an additional
				two hundred fifty square feet [23.23 square meters], to be used but not
				restricted to prescription receiving, checkout, and entrance area, but in all
				cases shall be large enough to carry out efficiently the elements of the
				practice of pharmacy at the level of activity of that operation. All of the
				allotted square footage space, including adequate shelving, shall lend itself
				to efficient pharmaceutical practice so as to permit free movement and visual
				surveillance. A patient consultation and information center must be provided.
				This patient consultation and information center may not be located in the
				prescription area or drug storage area. The patient consultation and
				information center must afford the patient privacy from visual or auditory
				detection or surveillance by any unauthorized person or persons. The patient
				consultation and information center must be accessible by a patient by
				provision of an entrance and exit that does not require the patient to enter or
				traverse the prescription area or drug storage areas.
3.
Prescription compounding counter.
There shall be a prescription compounding counter which shall provide a
				minimum of sixteen square feet [1.49 square meters] of unobstructed working
				space for one pharmacist, and a minimum of twenty-four square feet [2.23 square
				meters] of unobstructed working space where two or more pharmacists are on duty
				at any one time.
The floor area to be occupied by the dispensing pharmacists
				  shall extend the full length of the prescription compounding counter, and shall
				  be clear and unobstructed for a minimum distance of thirty inches [76.2
				  centimeters] from the counter.
4.
Prescription area.
The
				prescription area shall be separated from other areas in such a manner that
				prescription or nonproprietary drugs or devices are inaccessible to the reach
				of any unauthorized person.
5.
Light and ventilation.
The prescription area and all storerooms
				shall be well-lighted, ventilated, and kept free of obnoxious odors.
6.
Storage of medications.
Systems at pharmacy location must ensure medications are stored within the
				manufacture-recommended temperatures.
a. Room
				temperature in the drug storage must be monitored to ensure variations are
				limited.
b. When medications are
				stored in a refrigerator or freezer, the pharmacy shall use a continuous
				temperature monitoring device that reports excursions that may occur from
				accepted temperature levels. Units must exclusively be used for
				medications.