News: KBEMS announces epi-pen auto-injector pilot program

November 6, 2001

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KBEMS announces epi-pen auto-injector pilot program

By CHARLES O'NEAL
Kentucky Board of EMS

FRANKFORT — At their November 1, 2001, meeting, the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services voted to initiate a statewide pilot program for the administration of epinephrine via the use of an auto injector by EMT-Basics in the Commonwealth.

This program will commence on January 1, 2002 and end on December 31, 2003. Application may be made at any time up until the ending date. This pilot program will allow EMT-Basics to administer epinephrine through the use of an auto-injector device, without patient assistance and without the patient having had the device prescribed prior to the need for the drug.

The epinephrine can be administered with direct order from Medical Control or in certain instances by protocol without direct contact being made with Medical Control.

All licensed ambulance providers and organized first response agencies in the Commonwealth can utilize this program provided that they complete a single page application, which must be submitted for participation, and have a contractual agreement with a Kentucky licensed physician who will serve as Medical Director.

As a part of the application process, participants in the EMT-Basic Epinephrine Auto-Injector Pilot Program will be required to have the service director and service medical director, agree to certain conditions. These include:

That participation in the pilot program is at the pleasure of the Board and may be terminated by either the Board, the service, or the medical director in writing at any time; and
That the service is required to maintain a Medical Director that meets the requirements of the Board as outlined in KBEMS regulations at all times as a condition of participation in this program and that the physician medical director shall provide quality assurance and medical oversight over the program at all times; and
That the service assumes responsibility to provide the required training to their existing staff and to new staff members as they are employed or utilized, utilizing the curricula developed and approved by the Board and to provide refresher training on an annual basis; and
That the service and medical director will adhere to the protocols developed and approved by the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services; and
That the service will maintain a record keeping system, which will enable the service to provide quarterly statistical reports to the Board within 10 working days of the end of each calendar quarter on the form specified by the Board.

Application packets are available from KBEMS by contacting Katie L Sewell, Administrative Specialist II at 502-564-8963, extension 3794. This packet will also soon be available from our web site: www.kbems.org.

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