Pharmacist fatigue

PHARMACISTS and pharmacy technicians in Minnesota will no longer be able to work more than a 12 hour shift under a new law intended to reduce the errors resulting from fatigue, according to a report in Drug Topics.

The new ruling, which takes effect 01 Jul, also demands that pharmacists be given “reasonable time” for breaks.

If they work more than six hours, they are entitled to a 30-minute, uninterrupted break.

In addition, pharmacy personnel are allowed “reasonable time” to use the restroom every four hours.

Minnesota pharmacists came under fire after a s report found that errors at Minnesota pharmacies were on the increase.

The report referred to a case in which a customer suffered a stroke after a pharmacy gave the customer the wrong prescription.

“We are concerned that pharmacies are being asked to do more work and that the prescription volumes are increasing,” said Cody Wiberg, PharmD, executive director of the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy.

“Even the best of pharmacists, if you put them in the environment where there are hundreds of prescriptions to fill … and they are working twelve hours without a break, mistakes can occur .”

According to the new law, Minnesota pharmacies with only one pharmacist on duty may stay open while the pharmacist is on a break, but cannot dispense prescriptions while the pharmacist is absent.