(Chatham) — New regulations are creating a big headache for Pittsylvania County and it’s 11 volunteer fire and rescue agencies.
Public Safety Director Chris Key says new FDA rules require them to establish pharmacies when responding to calls. The Drug Supply Chain Security Act goes into effect in late-November.
“It requires EMS agencies across the Commonwealth to apply for their own controlled substance registration and DEA license to be in compliance with the new regulations,” Key told the county’s Board of Supervisors. “This regulation requires agencies to have their own secure pharmacy room with security features along with a secure lock box on each ambulance.”
Previously, hospitals and health systems gave agencies pre-filled drug kit exchange systems and replenished them as needed. County Public Safety has created a pharmacy room, and the agency will be licensed as a controlled facility.
Key says this will help ensure the accountability of narcotics and other medications. “Lets say Brosville transported a patient to Eden, to UNC-Rockingham. That patient would be taken care of at that hospital, but they would still have to go back to SOVAH-Danville to exchange that drug box,” Key explained. “This new setup and new rules and regulations is going to make it so the agencies are responsible for all that.”
Division Chief Kasey Seay says the estimated cost to establish the individual Public Safety pharmacy room is about $35,000. “Each agency has to apply to the state Pharmacy Board for a controlled substance registration,” Seay said. “And we also have to see about equipment. This is going to cause a financial strain on the agencies.
The Pittsylvania County Fire and Rescue Commission has set up a committee to work with the agencies to ensure compliance.