How many DEA registrations are required for a hospital with an outpatient pharmacy nearby?

In a scenario where a hospital operates alongside an outpatient pharmacy, the determination of how many DEA registrations are required depends on the activities of each entity. Hospitals typically need a single DEA registration for the institution itself to manage controlled substances used within the facility for inpatient care.

However, when the hospital also has an outpatient pharmacy that provides medication to patients outside the hospital setting, that pharmacy must obtain its own DEA registration. This is because the outpatient pharmacy operates as a separate entity that dispenses medications, and the DEA requires each distinct location where controlled substances are stored or dispensed to have its own registration.

In this case, the hospital would hold one registration, while the outpatient pharmacy would hold another, leading to a total of two required registrations for these facilities to legally dispense controlled substances in compliance with federal regulations. Thus, the correct answer reflects the necessity for distinct registrations based on the separate functions of the hospital and outpatient pharmacy.