What is required for pharmacies under common ownership to share a single patient database?

For pharmacies under common ownership to share a single patient database, it is essential to maintain records of prescriptions and refills. This requirement ensures that there is a comprehensive and accurate account of patient medication history across the pharmacies, which can be crucial for patient safety and continuity of care. The sharing of prescription records allows for better coordination and management of patient therapy, particularly when patients may fill prescriptions at multiple locations owned by the same organization.

Accurate record-keeping is also vital in compliance with regulatory requirements, as it helps in tracking medication usage and ensuring that patients are not receiving medications inappropriately or duplicatively from different locations. This creates a more streamlined process for both the pharmacies and the patients they serve.

The other options do not directly relate to the legal or regulatory requirements for sharing patient databases under common ownership. Each pharmacy having its own separate system would not facilitate the sharing of data. While notifying patients about shared data could be good practice, it is not a specific requirement for the sharing of a patient database. Lastly, having the same pharmacy hours is not relevant to the legal permissions regarding data sharing.