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Washington News: What is New with Patient Counseling?
Published in the April 2006 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter
In October 2004, the Washington State Board of Pharmacy authorized rulemaking to consider new patient counseling regulations. The process was initiated due to a lack of compliance with the current counseling regulation coupled with the number of prescription “misfill” complaints.
The Board asked a stakeholder group to consider two provisions that would ensure compliance with the rule and benefit patient care. The recommendations included documentation of patient counseling and the development of a patient counseling sign. The sign would educate patients about a pharmacist’s duty to counsel and encourage patients to be active participants in their health care.
After receiving feedback from stakeholders, the Board elected not to pursue rulemaking for either documentation of counseling or a patient counseling sign. The Board requested that a patient sign be developed for display in the pharmacy. The sign was approved at the December 2005 Board meeting and all pharmacies are encouraged to use this sign. The Board will evaluate the effectiveness of the sign. These results will be compared to complaints received related to a lack of patient counseling.
You can find a copy of the counseling sign by visiting https://wws2.wa.gov/doh/hpqa-licensing/HPS4/Pharmacy/default.htm and clicking on “What’s New.” Please contact the Board office at 1-800/896-0522 for any additional information. Thank you for your support of this important patient health and safety initiative.
