Section 555.12. Oral orders

Oral orders for medication or treatment shall be accepted only under urgent circumstances when it is impractical for the orders to be given in written manner by the responsible practitioner. Oral orders shall be administered in accordance with § 555.13 (relating to administration of drugs) only by personnel qualified by their professional license or certification issued by the Commonwealth and according to medical staff bylaws or rules, who shall document the orders in the proper place in the medical record of the patient. The order shall include the date, time and full signature of the person taking the order and shall be countersigned by a practitioner within 48 hours of the order. If the practitioner is not the attending physician, the practitioner shall be authorized by the attending physician and shall be knowledgeable about the patient’s condition. Countersignatures may be received by facsimile transmission.

The provisions of this § 555.12 amended October 22, 1999, effective November 22, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 5583. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (256563).