La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LIII-521

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section LIII-521 - Administration of Medications

A. Education and Training Required; Supervision

1. Pharmacists who intend to administer medications to their patients shall obtain the education and training described within this Section prior to engaging in such activity.

2. Pharmacists who intend to supervise other pharmacy personnel who administer medications to patients shall obtain the education and training described within this Section prior to engaging in such activity.

B. Education, Training and Continuing Competency

1. A pharmacist who intends to administer medications to patients shall possess a pharmacist license in active status. In the event the license is lapsed, suspended, or in any other inactive status, the pharmacist shall not administer medications. A pharmacist with a license in restricted status may administer medications unless the restriction imposed by the board prevents such activity.

2. The pharmacist shall successfully complete a certificate program for medication administration which is an evidence-based didactic course that meets current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) training guidelines. The certificate program shall be acquired from a provider accredited by ACPE, or in the alternative, by joint accreditation (JA); and further, the certificate program shall provide a minimum of 20 hours of instruction and experiential training in the following content areas;

a. standards for medication administration practices;

b. basic immunology;

c. recommended medication administration schedules;

d. vaccine storage and management;

e. informed consent;

f. physiology and techniques for medication administration;

g. pre- and post-administration assessment and counseling;

h. medication administration record management; and

i. management of adverse events, including identification and appropriate response, as well as documentation and reporting.

3. The pharmacist shall complete a life safety certification by the American Heart Association through its Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR and AED Training for Healthcare Professionals course, or its successor, or through an equivalent course sponsored by an alternative vendor. The pharmacist may substitute the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) course for the BLS standard; however, the Heartsaver CPR and AED or other courses intended for the general public shall not be sufficient to meet this standard. The pharmacist shall renew their certification prior to the expiration date assigned by the course provider.

4. To maintain continuing competency for medication administration, the pharmacist shall acquire at least one hour of continuing pharmacy education per year related to this topic. Continuing pharmacy education activities obtained for this purpose shall be acquired from a provider accredited by ACPE, or in the alternative, by JA; and further, the credit earned for such programs may be included within the total number of credits required to renew the pharmacist license.

5. The pharmacist shall retain evidence of their education, training and continuing competency; and further, shall furnish copies of such documentation upon request by the board.

6. Sanctions

a. The failure of a pharmacist to obtain and maintain the education, training and continuing competency described in this Section prior to administering medications to patients or supervising other pharmacy personnel administering medications to patients shall substantiate a violation of R.S. 37:1241(A)(3), and shall subject the pharmacist to disciplinary action by the board.

b. The failure to a pharmacist to provide documentation of their education, training and continuing competency to administer medications when requested by the board shall substantiate a violation of R.S. 37:1241(A)(22), and shall subject the pharmacist to disciplinary action by the board.

C. Reporting Administration of Immunizations

1. The immunizing pharmacist or his designee shall report the immunization to the state immunization registry within 72 hours of the administration of the immunization. The report of an immunization administration to the state immunization registry shall satisfy any requirement for notification of such information to the patient's primary care provider.

D. Pharmacists administering medications in a location other than a pharmacy, shall comply with the following minimum standards:

1. There shall be sufficient staffing available for the pharmacist to administer the medication, supervise any other pharmacy personnel administering medications, and monitor the patient afterward without distraction from other responsibilities.

2. To facilitate emergency management of anaphylactic reactions, there shall be adequate supplies of medication and equipment, as well as pre-determined procedures for the arrangement of emergency medical services.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LIII-521

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Pharmacy, LR 14:708 (October 1988), effective January 1, 1989, amended LR 29:2085 (October 2003), effective January 1, 2004, LR 34:1409 (July 2008), Amended by the Department of Health, Board of Pharmacy, LR 46578 (4/1/2020), Amended LR 471641 (11/1/2021), Amended LR 48494 (3/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:1182.