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Perimeter Center • 9960 Mayland Dr, Suite 300 • Henrico, VA 23233
Phone: 804/367-4456 • www.dhp.virginia.gov/pharmacy
December 2010
Published to promote compliance of pharmacy and drug law
News
Virginia
Board of Pharmacy
Board Appointments and Officer Election
Results
The following individuals were recently appointed by Governor
Bob McDonnell to the Virginia Board of Pharmacy: Robert M. Rhodes,
Winchester, VA; Ellen B. Shinaberry, Harrisonburg, VA; Jody H. Allen,
Midlothian, VA; and Pratt P. Stelly, Richmond, VA. These individuals
join six other current members of the Board of Pharmacy in carry-
ing out the specic duties and powers of the Board, which includes
regulating the practice of pharmacy and the manufacturing, dispens-
ing, selling, distributing, processing, compounding, and disposal of
drugs and devices. Additionally, Brandon Yi, Great Falls, VA, and
John Beckner, Richmond, VA, were recently elected to the positions
of Board chairman and vice chairman, respectively, for the period of
July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. For a complete list of the names
of the current Board members, visit www.dhp.virginia.gov/Pharmacy/
pharmacy_board.htm.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians to
Renew Licenses
Renewal notication letters were mailed in mid-November. This
letter stated that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians may now renew
their licenses via the online renewal process on the Board’s Web site
using a personal identication number (PIN). Either an established log
in ID and password from a previous renewal cycle may be used to gain
access or licensees may use the license number and PIN provided in
the renewal letter. As always, licensees are encouraged to renew online.
However, instructions for obtaining a paper renewal form that may be
mailed to the Board are included in the notication letter. Renewal fees
are as follows: pharmacist active license – $90; pharmacist inactive
license – $45; and pharmacy technician registration – $25.
In addition to submitting the renewal fee, each pharmacist or
pharmacy technician must attest to having successfully obtained all
necessary continuing education (CE) hours during the 2010 calendar
year. Each year pharmacists are required to obtain 15 hours per calendar
year and pharmacy technicians must obtain ve hours per calendar
year. Individuals that have not obtained the appropriate amount of CE
during 2010 may request a one-time extension for no cause shown.
Any subsequent extension requests will be granted for good cause
only. Such requests must be made in writing and prior to renewing the
license. Any individual who requests an extension will have his or her
CE audited the following year and be required to submit the original CE
documents as proof of compliance. Refer to guidance documents 110-4
and 110-42 at www.dhp.virginia.gov/pharmacy/pharmacy_guidelines
.htm for more information related to CE.
Frequently Cited Deficiencies in Community
Pharmacies
The new process for performing routine inspections of pharmacies
and handling of associated disciplinary matters was piloted in com-
munity pharmacies between January and June 2010 and went “live” in
July 2010. The following is a description of the most frequently cited
deciencies found in community pharmacies since June 2010. Refer-
ences to “major” or “minor” refer to the major or minor deciencies as
listed on Guidance Document 110-9 found at www.dhp.virginia.gov/
Pharmacy/pharmacy_guidelines.htm.
Inventories
During an inspection, the inspector will look for three types of in-
ventories. Since inspections are not announced and may be conducted
when the pharmacist-in-charge (PIC) is not available, it is strongly
recommended that staff, other than the PIC, be familiar with the loca-
tion of inventories.
♦ A perpetual inventory (major 15) of all Schedule II drugs re-
ceived and dispensed shall be performed with reconciliation at
least monthly. The inspector will verify that the inventory has been
completed in each calendar month and includes all Schedule II
drugs, including those not dispensed during that month.
♦ A biennial inventory (major 13 and minor 12) shall be taken
on any date which is within two years of the previous biennial
inventory. The inventory is a physical count, not an estimate, of
all Schedule I through V drugs the pharmacy possesses on the day
the inventory is taken, including expired drugs.
Note: At the March, 9, 2011 meeting, the Board clarified
in Guidance Document 110-16 found at www.dhp.virginia
.gov/pharmacy/pharmacy_guidelines.htm the requirement for
physically counting drugs in Schedule II and estimating drugs in
Schedules III, IV, and V when performing an inventory. Please see
the July 2011 Newsletter for additional information on this topic.
♦ Whenever there is a change in PIC (major 14 and minor 13), a
complete incoming PIC inventory shall be made of all Schedule
I through V drugs on hand. The inventory shall be completed as
of the date the individual becomes PIC and prior to opening for
business on that date. Please recall that Regulation 18VAC110-20-
110 was amended in 2009 to no longer require an outgoing PIC
inventory, however, it does require that the pharmacist shall have
the opportunity to take a complete and accurate inventory of all
Schedule II through V controlled substances on hand on the date
he or she ceases to be the PIC, unless the owner submits written
notice to the Board showing good cause as to why this opportunity
should not be allowed.