HospitalInspections.org

Based on interviews and review of documents, it was determined that the hospital failed to develop and implement a policy which defined which persons were authorized to accept verbal orders.

Failure to define who is authorized to accept verbal orders places patients at risk for errors due to unqualified persons accepting verbal orders.

Findings included:

1. Document review of the hospital's clinical protocol titled, "Medication Management: Verbal or Telephone Orders Guidelines," no number, reviewed 03/18/19, showed that verbal or telephone orders could only be received by individuals functioning within their scope of practice, but did not define who that was.

2. On 07/09/19 at 3:15 PM, Investigator #1 interviewed the Chief Pharmacy Officer (Staff #5). He stated that while the use of verbal orders was rare, verbal orders were used. He confirmed that the clinical protocol did not define who was authorized to accept verbal or telephone orders.

3. On 07/09/19 at 4:30 PM, Investigator #1 interviewed the Integrity Officer (Staff #2) . She confirmed that the current clinical protocol did not define who was authorized to accept verbal or telephone orders.