(a) Each clinic that makes an application for a license under this article shall show evidence that the professional director is responsible for the safe, orderly, and lawful provision of pharmacy services. In carrying out the professional director’s responsibilities, a consulting pharmacist shall be retained to approve the policies and procedures in conjunction with the professional director and the administrator. In addition, the consulting pharmacist shall be required to visit the clinic regularly and at least quarterly. However, nothing in this section shall prohibit the consulting pharmacist from visiting more than quarterly to review the application of policies and procedures based on the agreement of all the parties approving the policies and procedures.
(b) The consulting pharmacist shall certify in writing quarterly that the clinic is, or is not, operating in compliance with the requirements of this article. Each completed written certification shall be kept on file in the clinic for three years and shall include recommended corrective actions, if appropriate. Before July 1 of every odd-numbered year, the consulting pharmacist shall complete a Surgical Clinic Self-Assessment Form as determined by the board as a means to promote compliance through self-examination and education. The self-assessment shall assess the clinic’s compliance with current laws and regulations and include information on compounding practices as specified on the most recent version of the Surgical Clinic Self-Assessment Form approved by the board and posted on its internet website. The professional director of the clinic and consulting pharmacist shall certify on the final page of the Surgical Clinic Self-Assessment Form that they have read, reviewed, and completed self-assessment to the best of their professional ability and acknowledge that failure to correct any deficiency identified could result in action by the board. The completed form shall be signed under penalty of perjury, kept on file in the clinic for three years, and made available to the board or its designee, upon request.
(c) For the purposes of this article, “professional director” means a physician and surgeon acting in their capacity as medical director or a dentist or podiatrist acting in their capacity as a director in a clinic where only dental or podiatric services are provided.
(d) Licensed clinics shall notify the board within 30 days of any change in professional director on a form furnished by the board.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 470, Sec. 5. (AB 1286) Effective January 1, 2024.)