The following Board Approved protocal will be followed for all staff that are resposible for or handle any resident medication:
- All prescribed medication is self-monitored and Life Changes, Inc. is not responsible for resident medications.
- Prescription medication to which a resident must have immediate access (e.g., asthma inhalers, nitroglycerine tables, etc.) will be retained in resident’s possession.
- Residents must take medication as prescribed.
- All other prescription medication and non-prescription medication will be secured in a safe location by the House Leader/Manager and the following medication monitoring protocol implemented:
- Medication stored in safe location by the House Manager must be clearly marked and retrieved ONLY by resident.
- Staff is NOT authorized to open medication bottles or cases.
- Staff is NOT authorized to physically touch resident's medication.
- Resident will be provided access to medication at assigned times and must be present during "medication call" to receive their medication.
- Staff will visually monitor the type and amount of medication a resident takes.
- On occassion, a resident may miss "medication call". If this occurs it is staff's responsibity to ensure resident received his/her medication.
- Staff will document the type and quantity of medications relinquished to the resident's custody, and the resident will initial the medication log;
- Medications must be taken as prescribed, unless there is a written notification from the physician that the dosage has been changed. Documentation will be attached to the medication log.
- There will be a separate medication log for each resident.
- All medication counts shall be done by the resident under observation of staff.
- All expired medications or medications left in the custody of Life Changes, Inc. thirty (30) or more days, subsequent to the residentleaving the program, shall be relenquished to the Board President for disposal.
- Life Changes, Inc. management may conduct unannounced inspections of the medication storage area and medication logs and will document the inspection.
- Any adverse reaction by a resident to a medication, must be documented in a resident's file and reported to Management.
- Resident will self-administer medication and this will be observed by a staff person who has been oriented to the program policies and procedures of self-administration of prescription medication.
- Upon suspicion of abuse of medication, Life Changes, Inc. reserves the right to refer resident for urinalysis testing.
- In the instance of illness, staff MUST be notified. Residents must disclose to the physician that they are in recovery from substance abuse and should not be prescribed narcotic drugs. No Opiates (Vicodin, Percocet, etc.), Benzodiazepines (xanax, valium, etc.) Muscle Relaxants (flexeril, soma, etc.), Synthetic pan pills (tramadol, ltram, etc.), Opiod medications (methadone, suboxone, etc.), Stimulant amphetamine (adderal, Ritalin, etc.), Tricyclic Antidepressants (amitriptyline, doxepine, etc.), Anything with Pseudoephedrine, Anything with alcohol, Medical Marijuana, PM medications (lunesta, ambien, etc.) Ranitidine (zantac), unless expressly authorized by the Board President of Life Changes, Inc.