This page lists some of the best free resources available online
Helpful Links
Some of the best free resources available online
Legal
This resource from the DEA is an extremely useful, well-written guide for pharmacists on the Controlled Substance Act. It is also available in a printable .pdf and I highly recommend pharmacists use this not only in preparing for the MPJE but to prepare for practice. This guide is one of the best starting points for controlled substance compliance.
This free guide provides comprehensive information on Federal Pharmacy Law as well as interesting information behind the creation of those laws. This website is a good place to start to build a solid foundation in this area.
Don't deal with writing your own when the DEA does it for you. This website provides you with a Power of Attorney form in Word format.
If you're still using paper 222 forms to order C2's, stop! CSOS is much easier and you can get the meds the next day.
Hopefully it won't happen to you. but if you have a significant loss of controlled substances in the pharmacy you have to report it to the DEA. Be sure to report to any authorities required by state law as well.
In order to sell products containing pseudoephedrine all employees must be trained. This material from the DEA contains all required material. I recommend printing these slides, having all employees sign off that they have trained using a sign-off sheet, and keeping both in your compliance binder.
All companies are required to ensure their employees are legally eligible to work in the United States. This links to the USCIS'Â I9 form that provides that documentation.
CMS regulations require that exclusions be checked 'periodically;' because the exclusions database is updated monthly, it is a standard of practice to check all employees against this database prior to hire and then monthly afterwards. Many insurance companies contractually require monthly checks.
In addition, you can face penalties if you do hire someone on this database.
Use this website to find and/or confirm practitioners that have a Drug Addiction and Treatment Act (DATA 2000) Waiver and are thus authorized to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction outside of an opioid treatment center.
Contains the required training to comply with Fraud, Waste and Abuse. While Medicare no longer requires it, most third-parties require FWA training as part of their annual re-credentialing process.
Bula is the top subscription-based software solution dedicated to pharmacy compliance that empowers clients by delivering simplified intelligence in an accurate, timely and meaningful manner. It tracks bills, regulations, subregulations, rules and policies in all 50 states, D.C. and federal. Bula helps clients stay current in a simple and effective way, so they can effectively anticipate and navigate changes in regulation, evaluate and manage risk, stay in compliance, avoid large fines, and preserve customer trust.
Vaccine Storage and Handling
Comprehensive guide to vaccine storage and handling. This is the one document you need to be sure that the vaccines and refrigerated medications in your pharmacy remain potent and provide benefit to your patients.
Don't start giving vaccines without bookmarking this website! There are tons of free resources, including Q and A for tough situations, vaccine-specific information, links to VIS forms, temperature charts, compliance aids, and much more.
Compounding
From the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. A treasure trove of information on compounding, including plenty of free formulation records to get you started in building your compounding business.
One of the best sites to get started in compounding. Their newsletters feature great general compounding information as well as free formulation records using Perrigo suspending agents.Â
Safety and Quality
This is the go-to website for quality improvement. Tons of great resources, including their Open School that covers high reliability, quality improvement, patient communication, and much more. They have free forms and templates to help you get started in your pharmacy.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices is the organization for medication safety. Visit their site to keep up with the latest trends in improving medication safety across a range of healthcare settings, including pharmacies.
Use these guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control to create your pharmacy-specific, evidence-based opioid dispensing policies.
This site is completely dedicated to the implementation of USP <800> and written by experts in the field. This group has even developed a free checklist to identify deficiencies at your site with hazardous drug handling.
This link takes to you to a page with USP where you can sign up to receive a free copy of their General Chapters <795>, <797>, and <800>.
Comprehensive guide of community pharmacy best-practices, published by ISMP. This guide covers all aspects of the medication dispensing process, with the aim of reducing errors and improving medication safety in the community pharmacy.
Third Party and DMEPOS
A selfish plug for the continuing education I wrote on pharmacy insurance for FreeCE.com. If you are a member (which I highly recommend, by the way), you can receive credit. Even if you are not a member you can download the CE as a .pdf to read.
The CMS-855s application is required for pharmacies wanting to get setup to bill Medicare for both DMEPOS and non-accredited drug products that can be billed through Medicare Part B.
Clinical and Patient Education
Awesome site from ASHP that includes free patient education materials on the proper use of all sorts of medication delivery devices - eye/ear drops, nasal sprays, suppositories, patches, and much more.
Numerous physician and other organizations came together to each provide their short list of procedures and treatments that are often overused and/or inappropriate, with the goal of encouraging conversations between providers and patients. Also includes free handouts you can print for your patients.
I don't know about you but dermatology was one of those areas I felt unprepared for after graduation. Like it or not, patients are going to show you their rashes and bites and ask you what to do. These modules will help you better prepare to answer. I highly recommend the section on Drug Eruptions in particular.
Possibly the only website you'll ever need for women's health. Nearly every question you could be asked is listed, along with a printable .pdf handout to give the patient.
Don't just cop out when you get asked about drugs in pregnancy and just say 'ask your doctor.' Even if you want them to have that conversation at least provide them with this website, which lists numerous medications, OTC's, and herbals and provides detailed information on the risks during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Includes printable .pdf handouts.
This group saved my tail one time when I had an HIV patient and needed to provide treatment recommendations. Let's face it, if you don't work in HIV it's a hard field to keep up in, so bookmark this site and let these experts help you. There are hotlines on all aspects of HIV care.
Awesome website to help your patients find a Medicare Part D plan during open enrollment. You can enter their demographics and all their medications and it will provide a list of plans, premiums, when they hit the donut hole, etc.
Dedicated to educating parents on safe practices for storing medications safely in the home and preventing childhood poisoning from medications.Â
Five wishes is possibly the best patient-friendly resource to create advanced directives and clearly communicate end-of-life decisions to healthcare providers. I first learned about it as a student and highly recommend taking a look at it, especially if you work in long-term care or hospice.
Pharmacy Business
This is the companion website for the accounting book I used during the MBA program. Not only was the book well-written but their companion site has the presentations for all the chapters as well as practice problems so you can bulk up your accounting knowledge.
