Learning Objective: At the conclusion of this presentation, audience members will be able to list the steps required to implement a pharmacist-administered IV medication protocol
Background: Due to increased demands on ED staff, a protocolallowing pharmacists to administer IV medications in the ED was created and implemented. We hypothesize ED pharmacists can safely administer IV medications.
Methods: This is a clinical process improvement project. PA laws regarding pharmacist medication administration were reviewed to create the written protocol. An exceptionto 28 Pa. Code § 107.64 (administration of drugs) was granted by the PA Department of Health. The protocol was approved by the appropriate committees at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center (CMMC). Pharmacists must meet the following criteria to participate: active PA pharmacist license; active PA license to administer injectable medication; professional liability insurance; BLS, ACLS, and pediatric advanced life support certification; documented competency for comprehensive medication administration by a nurse educator. Pharmacist medication administration is limited to the scenarios and medications in the written protocol and only apply to practice in the ED. Administrations are documented as a clinical intervention and a data point in the CMMC's quality assurance and performance improvement within REDCap.
Results: This is an ongoing project that will be reassessed periodically. The approval process of a new written protocol will be discussed in detail. Data on safe medication administration and nursing satisfaction is ongoing at the time of submission.
Conclusion: This project demonstrates a successful path to expand pharmacists' scope of practice in the ED. Early data on safe medication administration will be presented at the conference.
Self-Assessment Question: What steps must be taken to get a pharmacist-administered medication protocol approved?
