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Provider Notice issued 07/22/11
Pill Splitting – Clarification of March 11, 2011 Informational Notice
| To: | Long Term Care Providers (ICF, SNF, ICF/DD, SLF) |
| Date: | July 22, 2011 |
| Re: | Pill Splitting – Clarification of March 11, 2011 Informational Notice |
The purpose of this notice is to clarify issues identified as a result of a March 11, 2011, Informational Notice relating to splitting pills when a physician changes the dosage of a medication to half of the previous dosage.
When a pill is split the unused half cannot be placed back in specialized packaging such as unit-dose or multi-dose strip packs or blister punch cards. The unused half must be destroyed and its destruction documented in the resident's medication administration record or nurse's notes. Each facility shall establish written procedures for handling the unused half and follow them when disposing of any unused medication.
Controlled drugs which are destroyed must be witnessed by a second party and the destruction documented with both parties signature.
Staff should wear gloves and thoroughly wash hands both prior to and after splitting a pill and use a pill splitter. If a pill is not evenly split it should not be administered to the resident. The pill half administered to the resident shall be documented in the resident's medication administration record at the actual dosage administered (one half of the whole pill).
Please review the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Web site's Medication Disposal Information for Environmentally Safe Disposal of Pharmaceuticals for specific directions on the proper disposal of medications.
Questions regarding this notice may be directed to the Bureau of Long Term Care at 1-217-782-0545.
Theresa A. Eagleson, Administrator
Division of Medical Programs