STRTP Medication Management and Psychiatric Services 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a California STRTP, who must provide informed consent before a youth can receive psychotropic medication?
- The STRTP program director
- The youth's authorized representative or the youth if they have legal capacity (Correct answer)
- The attending psychiatrist alone
- The county mental health director
Correct answer: The youth's authorized representative or the youth if they have legal capacity
California law requires informed consent from the youth's authorized representative (or the youth themselves if legally capable) before administering psychotropic medications.
Question 2: When a court authorization is required for psychotropic medication in an STRTP, which Welfare and Institutions Code section governs this process?
- WIC 4094
- WIC 739.5 (Correct answer)
- WIC 5585
- WIC 16501
Correct answer: WIC 739.5
California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 739.5 governs the court authorization process for administering psychotropic medications to foster youth.
Question 3: How must medications be stored in an STRTP to comply with licensing regulations?
- In a communal bathroom cabinet accessible to residents for self-administration
- In a locked, secure location with controlled access by authorized staff (Correct answer)
- In the resident's personal bedroom for privacy
- In a refrigerator shared with food items
Correct answer: In a locked, secure location with controlled access by authorized staff
STRTP regulations require all medications to be stored in a locked, secure location accessible only to authorized staff to prevent misuse or accidental ingestion.
Question 4: What is a PRN medication order in the context of an STRTP psychiatric service?
- A medication given on a fixed daily schedule regardless of symptoms
- A medication administered only when a specific symptom or condition arises (Correct answer)
- A medication that requires court authorization every time it is given
- A long-acting injectable medication given monthly
Correct answer: A medication administered only when a specific symptom or condition arises
PRN (pro re nata) orders authorize medication administration on an as-needed basis when a resident displays specific target symptoms identified by the prescribing psychiatrist.
Question 5: Which document must an STRTP maintain to record every instance of medication administration to a resident?
- Treatment summary report
- Medication Administration Record (MAR) (Correct answer)
- Progress note only
- Discharge summary
Correct answer: Medication Administration Record (MAR)
The Medication Administration Record (MAR) is the required document that logs each medication dose given, the time, the administering staff member, and any observed reactions.
Question 6: If a staff member discovers a medication error in an STRTP, what is the immediate required action?
- Wait to see if the resident shows adverse effects before reporting
- Notify the prescribing physician and document the error per facility protocol (Correct answer)
- Administer an extra dose to compensate if a dose was missed
- Discharge the resident to a higher level of care immediately
Correct answer: Notify the prescribing physician and document the error per facility protocol
Upon discovering a medication error, staff must immediately notify the prescribing physician and document the incident according to facility protocol to ensure resident safety and regulatory compliance.
Question 7: Under California STRTP standards, how frequently must a psychiatrist or physician review a resident's psychotropic medication regimen?
- Only at admission and discharge
- At least every 30 days (Correct answer)
- Once every six months
- Annually during the licensing review
Correct answer: At least every 30 days
California regulations require that a psychiatrist or physician review each resident's psychotropic medication regimen at least every 30 days to ensure ongoing appropriateness and safety.
STRTP Medication Management and Psychiatric Services 1
In a California STRTP, who must provide informed consent before a youth can receive psychotropic medication?