1586 Approved and required medications lists for emergency medical services agencies and emergency medical services providers
Approved and Required Medications Lists for Emergency Medical Services Agencies and Emergency Medical Services Providers [45 Pa.B. 5451]
[Saturday, August 29, 2015]Under 28 Pa. Code §§ 1027.3(c) and 1027.5(b) (relating to licensure and general operating standards; and medication use, control and security), the Department of Health (Department) has the authority to publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin a list of medications approved for use by emergency medical services (EMS) agencies, by EMS provider certification level and a list of medications that an EMS agency is required to stock based upon the type of EMS service it is licensed, under 35 Pa.C.S. § 8129 (relating to emergency medical services agencies), to provide. The Department has approved the following medications for administration by emergency medical responders (EMR), emergency medical technicians (EMT), advanced emergency medical technicians (AEMT), paramedics, prehospital registered nurses (PHRN), prehospital physician extenders (PHPE) and prehospital emergency medical services physicians (PHP) when functioning on behalf of an EMS agency. This notice also specifies the medications that must be stocked on the EMS vehicle listed.
Under 28 Pa. Code § 1027.5(d), EMS providers, other than a PHP, may administer to a patient medications, or assist the patient to administer medications previously prescribed for that patient, as specified in the Statewide EMS protocols or as authorized by a medical command physician. An EMS provider may administer medications on this list if the EMS provider is credentialed to do so and the EMS vehicle on which they are providing EMS is properly licensed to carry the medication.
Unless otherwise stated or restricted to a specific level of provider, listed medications may be given by any acceptable route as listed in protocol or as ordered by a medical command physician.
Medications listed as required to be carried on a specified type of EMS vehicle must be carried in a quantity sufficient to treat, using the Statewide EMS protocols, at least one adult. If the protocol identifies repeat doses, then additional medication must be carried. When a pediatric dose option is available (for example a pediatric EPINEPHrine autoinjector), then both the adult and pediatric options must be carried.
Section 8129(j) of 35 Pa.C.S. authorizes the Department to publish, through the Pennsylvania Bulletin, vehicle construction, equipment and supply requirements for EMS agencies based upon the type of EMS vehicles operated and the services provided. Under this authority, the Department is requiring that, during interfacility transport, all medications given by continuous infusion (except intravenous electrolyte solutions with potassium concentrations of no more than 20 mEq/L) must be regulated by an electronic infusion pump. For prehospital transport, continuous infusions of crystalloid solutions containing medication (except intravenous electrolyte solutions with potassium concentrations of no more than 20 mEq/L) and all vasoactive medications must be rate controlled by electronic IV pump or a manual flow control device capable of setting specific numeric flow rates. Nitroglycerin infusion must be regulated with an electronic pump.
Persons with a disability who require an alternate format of this notice (for example, large print, audiotape, Braille) should contact Richard L. Gibbons, Bureau Director, Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, Room 606, Health and Welfare Building, 625 Forster Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0710, (717) 787-8740. Speech or hearing impaired persons may call by using V/TT (717) 783-6154 or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TT).
Table 1. Medications that may be administered by EMS providers when functioning on behalf of an EMS agency based upon the type of EMS service an EMS agency is licensed to provide. Medication QRS
(incl.
providers at
or above
the level of
EMR)BLS
(incl.
providers at
or above
the level of
EMT)IALS
(incl.
providers at
or above
the level of
AEMT)ALS
(incl.
providers
above the
level of
AEMT)CCT
(incl.
providers
above the
level of
AEMT with
additional
approved
training)Air
(incl.
providers
above the
level of
AEMT with
additional
approved
training)Abciximab NO NO NO YES4 YES4 or 5 YES4 or 5 Acetaminophen NO NO NO YES YES YES Acetylcysteine NO NO NO YES4 YES4 YES4 Activated charcoal NO YES YES YES YES YES Adenosine NO NO NO YES YES YES Albumin NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Albuterol (nebulizer solution) NO NO YES YES YES YES Albuterol with ipratropium bromide (nebulizer solution) NO NO YES YES YES YES Amiodarone NO NO NO YES YES YES Anti-coagulants/Platelet Inhibitors: all types (unless otherwise specifically listed) NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Anticonvulsants: all types (unless otherwise specifically listed) NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Anti-emetics: all types (not otherwise specifically listed) NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Anti-hypertensives: all types (unless otherwise specifically listed) NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Antimicrobials: all types NO NO NO YES4 YES4 YES4 Antivenom: all types NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Aspirin, oral NO YES YES YES YES YES Atenolol NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Atropine sulfate NO NO NO YES YES YES Barbiturates: all types NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Benzocaine, topical NO NO NO YES YES YES Bivalirudin NO NO NO YES4 YES5 YES5 Blood products: all types NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Bronchodilators, short-acting medications listed in Statewide BLS protocol and contained in multidose inhaler (MDI), assist with patient's own prescribed medication NO YES YES YES YES YES Calcium chloride/calcium gluconate NO NO NO YES YES YES Captopril NO NO NO YES YES YES Clopidogrel NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Crystalloid solutions (the following solutions may be administered separately or in combination in various concentrations of each: dextrose, Lactated Ringers, Normosol, saline (NaCl)) (unless otherwise specifically listed). Note—Normal Saline Solution listed separately NO NO NO YES YES YES Crystalloid solution containing potassium, interfacility transport only, potassium concentration may not exceed 20 mEq/kg unless managed by qualified CCT or Air Medical provider NO NO NO YES4 YES4 YES4 Dexamethasone sodium phosphate NO NO NO YES YES YES Dextran NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Dextrose (for intravenous bolus in concentrations between 10-50%) NO NO YES YES YES YES Diazepam NO NO NO YES YES YES Digoxin NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Diltiazem NO NO NO YES YES YES DiphenhydrAMINE HCl NO NO NO YES YES YES DOBUTamine NO NO NO YES YES YES DOPamine NO NO NO YES YES YES Enalapril NO NO NO YES YES YES EPINEPHrine HCl 1:1,000 (unless otherwise specifically listed) NO NO YES2 YES YES YES EPINEPHrine HCl 1:10,000 solution and diluted concentrations for intravenous infusion NO NO NO YES YES YES EPINEPHrine HCl autoinjector, assist with patient's own prescribed medication NO YES YES YES YES YES EPINEPHrine HCl autoinjector (adult and pediatric dose sizes), (unless otherwise specifically listed) NO NO YES YES YES YES EPINEPHrine HCl autoinjector (adult and pediatric dose sizes), applies only to EMTs in BLS services approved for EMT EPINEPHrine program NO YES N/A N/A N/A N/A EPINEPHrine HCl, including racemic (by nebulizer) NO NO NO YES YES YES Eptifibatide NO NO NO YES4 YES4 or 5 YES4 or 5 Esmolol NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Etomidate NO NO NO YES3 YES3 YES3 FentanNYL NO NO NO YES YES YES Fibrinolytics/thrombolytics: all types NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Furosemide NO NO NO YES YES YES Flumazenil NO NO NO NO YES4 YES4 Glucagon NO NO YES9 YES YES YES Glucocorticoids/mineralcorticoids (unless otherwise specifically listed) NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Glucose, oral NO YES YES YES YES YES Heparin (unless otherwise specifically listed) NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Heparin (by continuous intravenous infusion) NO NO NO YES4 YES4 or 5 YES4 or 5 Hespan NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Hydralazine NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Hydrocortisone sodium succinate NO NO NO YES YES YES HYRDROmorphone NO NO NO YES4 YES4 or 5 YES4 or 5 Hydroxocobalamin NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Insulin NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Isoproterenol HCl NO NO NO YES4 YES4 YES4 Ketamine NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Ketorolac NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Labetolol NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Levalbuterol NO NO NO YES4 YES4 YES4 Lidocaine HCl NO NO NO YES YES YES LORazepam NO NO NO YES YES YES Magnesium sulfate NO NO NO YES YES YES Mannitol NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Metaproterenol NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 MethylPREDNISolone NO NO NO YES YES YES Metoprolol NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Midazolam NO NO NO YES YES YES Milrinone NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Morphine sulfate NO NO NO YES YES YES Naloxone (unless otherwise specifically listed). Note—autoinjector listed separately NO NO YES9 YES YES YES Naloxone, intranasal or autoinjector. Note—EMRs and EMTs must complete additional required education with QRS or BLS service participating in naloxone program YES1 YES1 YES9 YES YES YES Nerve agent antidote kit, autoinjector only (may include atropine, pralidoxime and diazepam) NO YES6,7 YES6,7 YES YES YES Non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents: all types, intravenous bolus during rapid sequence induction, assisting PHRN, PHPE or PHP NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents: all types, intravenous infusion during interfacility transport NO NO NO NO YES4 YES4 Nitroglycerin, intravenous and topical NO NO NO YES YES YES Nitroglycerin, sublingual (unless otherwise specifically listed) NO NO YES YES YES YES Nitroglycerin, sublingual, assist with patient's own prescribed medication NO YES YES YES YES YES Nitrous oxide NO NO YES YES YES YES Norepinephrine NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Normal Saline Solution (0.9% NaCl solution for intravenous volume infusion) NO NO YES YES YES YES Ondansetron NO NO NO YES YES YES Oxygen, delivered by devices within the published scope of practice for the EMS provider YES YES YES YES YES YES Oxytocin NO NO NO YES YES YES Phenylephrine NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Potassium Cl (in concentrations above 20 mEq/L) NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Plasmanate NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Pralidoxime NO NO NO YES YES YES Procainamide NO NO NO YES YES YES Propofol NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Propranolol NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Prostaglandins: all types NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Quinidine sulfate/quinidine gluconate NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Sodium bicarbonate NO NO NO YES YES YES Sodium thiosulfate NO NO NO YES YES YES Sterile water, for injection NO NO NO YES YES YES Succinylcholine NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Terbutaline NO NO NO YES YES YES Tetracaine, topical NO NO NO YES YES YES Theophylline NO NO NO NO YES4,5 YES4,5 Tirofiban NO NO NO YES4 YES4 or 5 YES4 or 5 Tocolytics: all types (unless otherwise specifically listed) NO NO NO NO YES5 YES5 Total Parenteral Nutrition NO NO NO YES4 YES4 YES4 Verapamil NO NO NO YES YES YES Medications not listed above, but within DOH-approved air ambulance service protocol for use by PHRN, PHPE and PHP NO NO NO NO NO YES5 Table 2. Medications required to be carried by a specified EMS vehicle based upon the type of EMS service an EMS agency is licensed to provide. (R=Required) Medication QRS BLS IALS ALS CCT AIR Adenosine R R R Aspirin, oral R R R R R Atropine sulfate R R R Benzodiazepines (diazepam, lorazepam or midazolam) At least one type must be carried. R10,12 R10,12 R10,12 Bronchodilators (nebulizer solution), (albuterol or albuterol with ipratropium bromide) At least one type must be carried. R8 R8 R8 R8 Dextrose (for intravenous bolus in concentration between 10-50%) R R R R DiphenhydrAMINE HCl R R R EPINEPHrine HCl, 1:1,000 concentration (IALS may meet requirement with EPINEPHrine as autoinjector—both adult and pediatric dose sizes—or as solution in vial/ampoule; ALS, CCT, and Air must carry 1:1,000 in vial or ampoule) R R R R EPINEPHrine HCl, 1:10,000 concentration R R R EPINEPHrine, autoinjector (adult and pediatric dose sizes)—applies only to BLS services approved for EMT EPINEPHrine program R3 Etomidate—applies only to ALS services approved by regional etomidate program R3 R3 R3 Glucagon R R R Glucose, oral R R R R R Lidocaine HCl R R R Naloxone (restrictions on forms for QRS/BLS services listed separately) R R R R Naloxone, intranasal kit or intramuscular autoinjector—applies only to QRS/BLS services that meet training requirements. R3 R3 Narcotic analgesics (fentaNYL or morphine sulfate) At least one type must be carried. R11,12 R11,12 R11,12 Nitroglycerin, sublingual R R R R Normal Saline Solution (0.9% NaCl solution for intravenous volume infusion) R R R R Oxygen R R R R R Sodium bicarbonate R R R Medication within DOH-approved air ambulance service protocol for use by PHRN, PHPE or PHP on crew R QRS—Quick Response Service; BLS—Basic Life Support ambulance service; IALS—Intermediate Advanced Life Support ambulance service; ALS—Advanced Life Support ambulance service; CCT—Critical Care Transport ambulance service; Air—Air ambulance service.
1. EMRs and EMTs are restricted to administering this medication by intranasal and intramuscular autoinjector routes only, consistent with Statewide BLS protocols.
2. AEMTs are restricted to administering this medication by intramuscular route only, consistent with Statewide AEMT protocols. AEMTs may not administer this medication by intravenous or intraosseous route.
3. Permitted for services that meet Department requirements for training, medication stocking and any agency or quality improvement requirements, as verified by the agency's assigned regional EMS council.
4. During interfacility transport, paramedics who are authorized to function for an EMS agency that has been licensed as an ALS, CCT or air ambulance service are restricted to the maintenance and monitoring of medication administration that is initiated at the sending medical facility.
5. This medication must be carried on a CCT ambulance so that it is only accessible when a PHRN, PHPE or PHP is part of the crew. Paramedics who are authorized to function for an EMS agency that has been licensed as a CCT or air ambulance service may only administer this medication when in the direct physical presence of, and supervised by, a PHRN, PHPE or PHP.
6. May administer to a patient when assisting an EMS provider above the level of AEMT who has determined the dose for the patient consistent with Statewide ALS protocols.
7. For self or peer rescue only.
8. One listed type of bronchodilator medication must be carried on each licensed vehicle.
9. AEMTs are restricted to administering this medication by intransasal, intramuscular or subcutaneous routes only, consistent with Statewide AEMT protocols. AEMTs may not give this medication by intravenous route.
10. One benzodiazepine class medication must be carried on each licensed vehicle.
11. One opioid class medication must be carried on each licensed vehicle.
12. For additional information relating to security and medication tracking requirements for controlled substances, see 28 Pa. Code § 1027.5.
KAREN M. MURPHY, PhD, RN,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 15-1586. Filed for public inspection August 28, 2015, 9:00 a.m.]
