Board News and Announcements
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FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013
Press Release
North Carolina Health Officials Investigating Product from Compounding Pharmacy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: news@dhhs.nc.gov |
Raleigh, N.C. - The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy are participating with other local, state and federal health agencies in an investigation of products prepared by a compounding manufacturer, Main Street Family Pharmacy of Newbern, Tennessee that were shipped to three North Carolina clinics. The North Carolina investigation began after the FDA was notified of two individuals who developed complications after administration of an injectable steroid product at a clinic in Greenville, N.C. Main Street Family Pharmacy has issued a voluntary recall of all sterile products.
State and local public health officials are working with the three clinics that received the formulation of methylprednisolone acetate, a steroid product, associated with the investigation. The clinics involved are Carolina Arthritis Center in Pitt County, Bailey Family Practice Center in Nash County, and Shallote Medical Center in Brunswick County. The clinics are notifying patients who may have been exposed to alert them to any signs and symptoms of complications. As a precaution, the N.C. Board of Pharmacy has contacted the clinics and asked that all products from the pharmacy be quarantined and the pharmacy has agreed to voluntary surrender its North Carolina pharmacy license.
Complications identified thus far are skin abscesses. Health officials have not had any reports of meningitis, stroke, or death. Any individuals who are experiencing any unexplained health problems following an injection of methylprednisolone acetate from one of these clinics are encouraged to contact the administering clinic or their regular health care provider.
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FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013
- FRAUDULENT PRESCRIPTIONS ALERT - CONCORD / CHARLOTTE / KINGS MOUNTAIN AREA:
NC PHARMACISTS: Please be aware that we have an individual (“patient”) that is presenting to clinic, especially OUC*** clinics using an alias to fraudulently obtain narcotic Rx’s. She and her ‘side kick’ originally started this back in Dec, and both were arrested by CMPD on Jan 29th, 2013. They made bond and were released.
***OUC clinics are OrthoCarolina’s - Orthopedic Urgent Care clinics that are open after hours and on weekends.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/INSTRUCTIONS
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
PHARMACY STUDENTS - Click here for exam/licensure information.
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING (SEPTEMBER 10, 2013) ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO 21 NCAC 46 .3401; .3402; AND .3404; AND PROPOSED REPEAL OF 21 NCAC 46 .3403; .3405; .3406; .3407; AND .3408 – AUTOMATED DISPENSING ON DRUG SUPPLY DEVICES. Revisions simplify categorizations of automated medication systems and certain recordkeeping obligations, consolidate the rules and remove redundancies.
A public hearing will be held on September 10, 2013 at 5:00pm at the NC Board of Pharmacy office, 6015 Farrington Road, Suite 201, Chapel Hill, NC 27517.
Any person may object to the proposed amendment by attending the public hearing on September 10, 2013 and/or by submitting a written objection by September 10, 2013 to Jay Campbell, Executive Director, North Carolina Board of Pharmacy, 6015 Farrington Road, Suite 201, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, fax (919) 246-1056, e-mail jcampbell@ncbop.org. The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy is interested in all comments pertaining to the proposed rule. All persons interested and potentially affected by the proposal are strongly encouraged to read this entire notice and make comments on the proposed rule.
• NOTICE OF TEXT/PUBLIC HEARING:
http://www.ncbop.org/LawsRules/3400AutomatedDispensingRuleNoticeOfText041913.pdf
http://www.ncbop.org/LawsRules/3400AutomatedDispensingRuleForNoticeCommentRevMay2013.pdf
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013
Pharmacy Compounding Working Group Presents Recommendations to the Board. At the Board’s April 16, 2013 meeting, the Pharmacy Compounding Working Group submitted a set of recommendations to the Board, which may be found here: http://www.ncbop.org/PDF/CompoundingWorkGroupRecommendationsApril2013.pdf. Board staff action on Recommendations 1 and 5 are already well underway. Recommendation 6 reflects existing Board staff practice. The other recommendations will require further study and action by the Board members.
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2013
Stewart Pharmaceuticals Announces Voluntary Recall of All lots of Sterile Products Repackaged and Distributed by Stewart Pharmaceuticals Due to Lack of Sterility Assurance. Click here to read the press release.
NEW CE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2013: PHARMACISTS & TECHNICIANS, Remember to check our CE page often for upcoming CE programs in your area. (LAST UPDATED MAY 17, 2013.)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013
PCAT PREPARATORY REVIEW. The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and the Student National Pharmaceutical Association invite you to join their PCAT Preparatory Review, June 21 - 23, 2013. More details and registration information found here: http://pharmacy.unc.edu/news/events/the-pcat-preparatory-review.
MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013
Hospital/LTC rule amendments effective March 1, 2013. Click here to read the rules as amended.
FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013
URGENT: DRUG RECALL. Mutual Pharmaceutical Company is recalling two lots of Fibricor 105mg tablets and two lots of the authorized generic Fenofibric Acid 105mg tablets. Click here for the full recall notice and lot numbers.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013
DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (“DEA”) PROPOSES RULES THAT WOULD ALLOW RETAIL PHARMACIES TO CONDUCT CERTAIN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE TAKE-BACK PROGRAMS. On December 21, 2012, the DEA published a notice of proposed rulemaking that would allow retail pharmacies to conduct certain controlled substance take-back programs. The DEA notice may be found here: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2012/fr1221_8.htm. Board staff has prepared a short summary of the proposed rule, which may be found here.
ALL ALERTS AND UPDATES RELATED TO THE MULTISTATE OUTBREAK OF FUNGAL MENINGITIS (CONSOLIDATED HERE)
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2012 - REMINDER
On May 1, 2012, the NC Board of Pharmacy ceased accepting checks and American Express as forms of payment. THE BOARD ACCEPTS PAYMENT VIA VISA, MASTERCARD OR DISCOVER.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012
CHANGES TO CONTINUING EDUCATION APPROVAL PROCESS BEGINNING MARCH 1, 2012
Beginning March 1, 2012, the Board of Pharmacy will no longer approve requests for continuing education courses that are not accredited by ACPE or the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists (“NCAP”). The reasons for the change in policy are two-fold: (1) the volume of such requests has increased substantially in the past two years, hindering Board staff’s ability to focus on the Board’s core functions; and (2) relatedly, Board staff is concerned about its ability to assess these requests for substantive acceptability as continuing education courses.
Continuing education programs approved by Board staff on or before February 29, 2012 will remain available on the Board CE page and may be used for 2013 license renewal.
Going forward, the Board will continue to provide credit for certain categories of non-ACPE, non-NCAP continuing education (e.g., Board Meeting Attendance, CPR Training, Precepting, Residency, Spanish or Other Foreign Language Class, Continuing Medical Education, Continuing Nursing Education, Continuing Dental Education). Those categories should be well known to North Carolina pharmacists and can be reviewed in the FAQ section of the Board website: (http://www.ncbop.org/faqs/Pharmacist/faq_ContEducation.htm).
Any pharmacist or organization in need of approval of a CE program may contact NCAP, which stands willing and able to provide accreditation services. Information about NCAP accreditation services may be found here: http://www.ncpharmacists.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=106.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012
REMINDER: ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR PHARMACY EDUCATION (ACPE) REQUIRES PHARMACISTS TO OBTAIN A UNIQUE ID AS PART OF CPE MONITOR INITIATIVE. As the new year begins, Board staff reminds pharmacists that ACPE and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy have launched “CPE Monitor” – an electronic system for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to track completed continuing pharmacy education credits. Participation in CPE Monitor requires pharmacists to obtain an NABP e-Profile ID. The e-Profile ID is required by ACPE to receive continuing education credits from ACPE-accredited providers.
Click on the links below for more information:
- CPE Monitor: Information for Pharmacists & Pharmacy Technicians
- CPE Monitor & You
- Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft: Social Security Numbers and CPE Monitor
*Forget your NABP number or need to get one?
CLICK HERE for your NABP e-Profile.
Please note: North Carolina pharmacists will still be required to self-report all continuing education into their Board of Pharmacy account through their personal log-on at the Board’s website. ACPE (or ACPE providers) will not download continuing education information into your Board of Pharmacy account.
Health Advisories (last updated March 1, 2013) - Check here regularly for the latest alerts and recall notices.
Medicare/Medicaid (last updated June 4, 2012) - Check here regularly for the latest updates regarding Medicare/Medicaid.
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The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy's mission is to protect the public health, safety and welfare in pharmaceutical matters. The Board sets standards for academic and practical experience programs prior to licensure, issues permits to operate pharmacies and DME facilities, and annually renews licenses, permits and registrations.
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