Rule 5180:2-9-14 | Medications.
(A) What is the proper procedure for managing a child's medication during admission to a residential facility?
Upon admission to a residential facility the staff of the facility is to document all medications the child is currently prescribed, as well as any over the counter medications the child takes on a regular basis, in accordance with rule 5180:2-42-66.2 of the Administrative Code.
(B) How often is a child's mediation regimen to be reviewed and documented?
(1) The residential facility is to review a child's medication regimen at least every six months during service plan reviews.
(2) Any changes to the medication regimen authorized by the licensed health professional is to be documented by staff immediately upon implementation. Implementation refers to:
(a) At the point medication change is carried out with the child, when the first does of a new or altered medication is administered; or
(b) When the first scheduled dose is withheld, authorized by the licensed health professional's order.
(C) What kind of approval is needed before starting, altering, or stopping medication?
In no event shall staff of a residential facility begin, alter, or suspend a child's or teenage mother's medication without the documented verbal or written approval of a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe medication.
(D) What is staff to do if a child misses a does or multiple doses of medication?
If a child misses dosages of the medication for longer than a forty-eight hour period, staff of the residential facility will contact a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe medication or the pharmacist that filled the prescription and obtain verbal or written instruction on how to restart the medication.
(E) What information should staff responsible for administering medication have access to?
Each staff person who is responsible for administering medication to a child is to be provided with a written schedule of the child's medication. This schedule is to be maintained in each child's case record as outlined by rule 5180:2-5-10 of the Administrative Code and is to include, but is not limited to, the following instructions and information:
(1) The name of the child.
(2) The name of each medication to be administered.
(3) The proper dosage of each medication to be administered.
(4) The timetable for administration of medication.
(5) Instructions regarding administration of medication.
(6) Information concerning possible side effects of each medication as indicated by the drug manufacturer's official website, a physician, pharmacist or a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs.
(7) Contact information for the prescribing physician.
(F) Is it permissible to administer medication to a child that was prescribed for someone else?
A child is not to be given any prescription medication which has not been prescribed for the child.
(G) How does a residential facility track the administration of medication?
Each residential facility is to maintain a written cumulative record of all prescribed medication administered to a child during placement in the facility. The current record is to be located with the medication and is to reflect reasons for altered or missed dosages of prescribed medication.
(H) How are medication to be stored in a residential facility?
All medication in a residential facility is to be stored in a locked cabinet or storage area away from children except that an inhaler or other medication may be available to a person with a special health condition, who may need these for an emergency.
Last updated August 13, 2026 at 8:25 AM
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