What quantity of CII medication can be dispensed to get a hospice patient through an emergency period when the pharmacist cannot contact the prescriber?

In situations where a hospice patient requires immediate access to a controlled substance (CII medication) and the pharmacist is unable to contact the prescriber, the regulation allows the pharmacist to use professional judgment to determine the quantity needed to manage the patient's needs during the emergency period. This decision is based on the necessity to ensure the patient's comfort and continuity of care.

Dispensing whatever quantity is needed during an emergency reflects a focus on patient welfare and aligns with the concept that pharmacists play a critical role as healthcare providers in urgent situations, particularly for patients in hospice care who may be experiencing severe pain or distress. This flexibility is crucial, as patients in hospice may not have predictable medication needs, and their conditions can change rapidly.

Other options, while they each provide specific limits or considerations, do not adequately address the urgency of the situation or the discretion required by the pharmacist in a hospice setting. Therefore, the most appropriate answer is to dispense a quantity sufficient to manage the patient's needs through the emergency.