Pharmacists seeking authorization to administer drugs by injection must apply to the Alberta College of Pharmacists within one year of successful completion of an approved training program.
If more than one year elapses between completion of the training program and application for authorization, the pharmacist must complete another training program.
Rationale:
- It is difficult to maintain psychomotor skills over a long period of time if you are not practising them.
- There is significant potential for harm if injections are provided incorrectly, e.g., nerve damage.
- Injections techniques do change, e.g., Z-track has become the preferred method for intramuscular injections over the past few years.
Background:
- When “Authorization to Administer Drugs by Injection” rules were first approved by ACP Council in Dec. 2006, we did not expect that some pharmacists would let a significant period of time transpire between completing the training program and applying for authorization.
- As of June 15, 2009, RxA reports that 343 pharmacists have completed their training program (between Oct. 23, 2007 and June 13, 2009) but only 212 pharmacists have applied to ACP for the authorization.
Originally published in the July 14, 2009, issue of The Link
