La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LIII-913

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section LIII-913 - Administration of Medications

A. Education and Training Required; Supervision

1. Pharmacy technicians 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. Pharmacy technicians, once properly qualified as required by the provisions of this Section, may only administer medications to patients while under the supervision of a pharmacist with the same qualification in medication administration as described in Chapter 5 of this Part.

B. Education, Training and Continuing Competency

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

2. The pharmacy technician 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 six hours of instruction and experiential training in the following content areas;

a. recognition of vaccines and other medications and their corresponding routes of administration;

b. proper storage of vaccines and other medications;

c. safety procedures to avoid accidental needlestick injuries;

d. selection of proper needle length for injectable medications based on patient parameters;

e. proper technique for preparation and administration of medication;

f. demonstration of appropriate patient distraction techniques during medication administration;

g. demonstration of appropriate technique or intramuscular and subcutaneous injections;

h. demonstration of use of universal precautions pertinent to bloodborne pathogens;

i. procedures for management of adverse reactions; and

j. proper documentation procedures.

3. The pharmacy technician 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 pharmacy technician 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 pharmacy technician shall renew their certification prior to the expiration date assigned by the course provider.

4. To maintain continuing competency for medication administration, the pharmacy technician 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 pharmacy technician certificate.

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

b. The failure to a pharmacy technician 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 pharmacy technician to disciplinary action by the board.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LIII-913

Promulgated by the Department of Health, Board of Pharmacy, LR 48496 (3/1/2022).

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