What is one requirement for institutional pharmacies when administering medications?

Institutional pharmacies are required to establish and maintain written policies for medication delivery, which is crucial for ensuring that protocols are standardized and adhered to consistently. These policies serve various purposes, such as providing guidelines for safe and accurate medication administration, outlining procedures for handling different scenarios, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. Having clear, documented practices helps minimize errors and enhance patient safety within the institutional setting, where multiple healthcare professionals may interact with medication systems. This requirement reinforces the need for accountability and systematic approaches in medication handling and distribution.

The other options do not align with the fundamental requirements of institutional pharmacies. For example, while timely medication administration is important, there is no specific rule requiring medications to be kept onsite for 72 hours. The signing for every dose administered might be a part of internal policy but is not universally mandated. Additionally, the use of only branded medications is not a requirement, as institutional pharmacies often use generics that are equally effective and approved. Hence, having comprehensive written policies stands out as an essential requirement for the effective administration of medications in institutional settings.