As used in the Pharmacist Prescriptive Authority Act:

A. "administer" means the direct application of a drug by any means to the body of a person;

B. "board" means the board of pharmacy;

C. "dangerous drug" means a drug that, because of any potentiality for harmful effect or the methods of its use or the collateral measures necessary to its use, is not safe except under the supervision of a practitioner licensed by law to direct the use of such drug and the drug prior to dispensing is required by federal law and state law to bear the manufacturer's legend of "Caution: federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription." or "RX only";

D. "guidelines or protocol" means a written agreement between a pharmacist clinician or group of pharmacist clinicians and a practitioner or group of practitioners that delegates prescriptive authority;

E. "monitor dangerous drug therapy" means the review of the dangerous drug therapy regimen of patients by a pharmacist clinician for the purpose of evaluating and rendering advice to the prescribing practitioner regarding adjustment of the regimen. "Monitor dangerous drug therapy" includes:

(1) collecting and reviewing patient dangerous drug histories;

(2) measuring and reviewing routine patient vital signs, including pulse, temperature, blood pressure and respiration; and

(3) ordering and evaluating the results of laboratory tests relating to dangerous drug therapy, including blood chemistries and cell counts, controlled substance therapy levels, blood, urine, tissue or other body fluids, culture and sensitivity tests when performed in accordance with guidelines or protocols applicable to the practice setting;

F. "pharmacist" means a person duly licensed by the board to engage in the practice of pharmacy pursuant to the Pharmacy Act;

G. "pharmacist clinician" means a pharmacist with additional training, at least equivalent to the training received by a physician assistant, required by regulations adopted by the board in consultation with the New Mexico board of medical examiners [New Mexico medical board] and the New Mexico academy of physician assistants, who exercises prescriptive authority in accordance with guidelines or protocol;

H. "practitioner" means a physician duly authorized by law in New Mexico to prescribe controlled substances; and

I. "prescriptive authority" means the authority to prescribe, administer or modify dangerous drug therapy.

History: Laws 1993, ch. 191, § 2; 1995, ch. 121, § 1; 1999, ch. 298, § 4.

Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was insulted by the compiler and is not part of the law.

The 1999 amendment, effective June 18, 1999, added "or 'RX only'" at the end of Subsection C and deleted "of pharmacy" following "board" in Subsection F.

The 1995 amendment, effective July 1, 1995, added Subsection A, redesignated the remaining subsections accordingly, made minor stylistic changes in Subsection E, and inserted "administer" in Subsection I.