Maine News: Reminder - Implementation of Barrier, Alarm, and Security Camera Requirement

March 1, 2008 12:52 PM

Published in the March 2008 Maine Board of Pharmacy Newsletter

Implementation of Board Rule Chapter 13, §6(4)(5), and (6) was deferred to June 30, 2010, to allow ample time for pharmacies to comply with barrier, alarm, and security camera system requirements. Pharmacies that underwent or may be planning on physical alterations prior to June 30, 2010, become compliant with the aforementioned rule prior to the deferment date.
This is a friendly reminder that there is only 27 months left to full rule compliance. The following is an excerpt of the rule; please visit our Web site (www.maine.gov/professionallicensing) for a complete reading of this rule.
Rule Chapter 13, §6(4)(5) and (6)
4. Deployment of Barrier
During the absence of a pharmacist or authorized pharmacy technician from the prescription filling area, the prescription filling area shall be secured with a barrier that extends from the floor or counter to the ceiling. The barrier must be constructed of a material of sufficient strength so that the barrier cannot be readily removed, penetrated or bent. If the barrier is constructed of non-solid material, any openings or interstices must be small enough to prevent the removal, by any means, of items from the prescription filling area. If, in addition, there is no authorized person in the prescription filling area, the barrier shall also be locked. The retail drug outlet and pharmacist in charge shall ensure that only a pharmacist or authorized person possesses or has access to the key, combination or activation code to the lock.
5. Alarm
The prescription filling area shall be protected by an electronic security system. The electronic security system must be separate from any other electronic security system that may be installed at the retail drug outlet, and must be capable of activation/deactivation separately from any other electronic security system that may be installed at the retail drug outlet. The drug outlet shall activate the electronic security system during the absence of a pharmacist, pharmacy technician or authorized person from the prescription filling area. The retail drug outlet and pharmacist in charge shall ensure that only a pharmacist or authorized person possesses or has access to the key, combination or activation code to the electronic security system.
6. Security Cameras
A retail drug outlet shall deploy security cameras sufficient in number to monitor the critical areas of the pharmacy department, including, at a minimum, the prescription filling area, the narcotics safe and the checkout area. The cameras shall operate continuously, without interruption, 24 hours per day each day of the year. The cameras shall continuously record and store images of the monitored area at a frequency of no less than 15 frames per second. A retail drug outlet shall retain stored images for no less than 30 days after recordation and shall produce the stored images to the board upon request.
7. Implementation of Barrier, Alarm and Security Camera Requirements
A retail drug outlet that is not in compliance with the barrier, alarm and security camera requirements of Section 6, subsections 4, 5 and 6 shall bring itself into full compliance upon any alteration of the prescription filling area that requires approval of the board pursuant to Chapter 8, Section 7 or by June 30, 2010, whichever first occurs.