LAC 28:CLXI.1917. Medication Administration

A. Written Authorization. No medication or special medical procedure shall be administered to a child unless authorized in writing by the parent. Such authorization shall include: 1. name of child; 2. drug name and strength; 3. date(s) to be administered; 4. directions for use, including the route (oral, topical), dosage, frequency, time and schedule and special instructions, if any. It is not acceptable to note “as indicated on bottle”; and 5. signature of parent and date of signature. B. Required Container/Packaging 1. For prescription medication to be administered at the center, the center shall maintain the original pharmacy container with the complete pharmacy label. 2. For non-prescription medication to be administered, the center shall maintain the original bottle packing for the medicine or a printed document from the manufacturer’s website, which shall include the drug name and strength and clear directions for use. C. All medication shall be sent to the center in its original container, shall not have an expired date, and shall be clearly labeled with the name of the child to ensure that medication is for individual use only. D. If a non-prescription medication label reads “consult a physician,” the early learning center shall also maintain a written authorization from a licensed health care provider for the child to take the medicine. E. Aerosol. All aerosol medications shall be delivered to the center in pre-measured dosages. F. Topical. The center shall not apply topical ointments, sprays or creams without a written authorization signed and dated by the parent. G. Self-Administration. Children shall not administer their own medications without written authorization from the parent and such children shall administer medication in the presence of a staff person. H. Records. Medication administration records shall be maintained for all children regardless of who administers the medication. Records shall include the following: 1. name of the child and medication name and dosage administered; 2. date and time medication administered; 3. documentation of telephone contact with parent prior to giving “as needed” medication; 4. signature of person administering medication or witnessing the child administering own medication; 5. signature of person completing the form; and 6. when a parent administers medication to his/her own child on center premises, the medication administration record shall be documented by either the parent or a staff member. I. Authorization for “as needed” prescription and non-prescription medication shall be updated as necessary or at least every six months by the parent, and shall include circumstances for administering “as needed” medication and any applicable special instructions. J. Medical Procedures. Children that require medical procedures such as tube feeding shall have specific instructions from a health care provider as part of the overall care plan for the child. 1. Administration of feedings or medications through a tube-feeding apparatus shall be performed by a staff member trained and authorized by the parent or individual designated by the parent. 2. Parental authorization and training shall be documented and shall include the name of child, date of training, name of staff trained, signature of staff trained, and signature of parent. 3. Documentation of feedings and medications administered shall include the name of child, date, time, what was administered, and signature of administering staff member. K. Emergency Medications 1. Children who require emergency medications, such as an EpiPen or Benadryl, shall have a written plan of action that shall be updated as changes occur or at least every six months, and shall include: a. method of administration; b. symptoms that indicate the need for the medication; c. actions to take once symptoms occur; d. description of how to use the medication; and e. signature of parent and date of signature. 2. Medication administration records for emergency medication shall be maintained and include the following: a. symptoms that indicated the need for the medication; b. actions taken once symptoms occurred; c. description of how medication was administered; d. signature of administering staff member; and e. phone contact with the parent after administering emergency medication. L. Supplements. Children shall not be administered any form of supplements without prior written parental authorization. M. Stock Emergency Medications. 1. Early learning centers may have stock emergency medications. 2. Stock supply in the name of and for use by the early learning center can only be prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional authorized to prescribe said medication. 3. Life-saving emergency medications can be dispensed by a licensed pharmacist or licensed prescriber for stock supply. 4. Emergency medications are medications that can be administered to treat life-threatening conditions. Such medications may include, but are not limited to, the following: a. Epinephrine; b. Albuterol; c. Naloxone; and d. Glucagon. 5. At least one employee at each early learning center shall receive training on the use of auto-injectable epinephrine. Early learning center employees may be trained by a registered nurse, a licensed medical physician, an anaphylaxis training organization, or any other entity approved by LDH. 6. Early learning center employees may be trained on the use of other stock medications such as albuterol, naloxone, and glucagon by a medical emergency training organization, a registered nurse, or a licensed physician who is on the LDOE registry of approved trainers on the administration of emergency stock medications. 7. Employees administering any of these emergency stock medications shall be trained annually on the following; a. techniques on how to recognize signs of a life-threatening emergency; b. procedures on the storage of emergency medications; c. administration of emergency medications; d. emergency procedures such as calling emergency medical services (EMS) immediately before or after administering a life-saving medication; e. any protocols, including those issued by the LDH for the administration of the emergency stock medications; and f. procedures for proper disposal of the stock emergency medications along with the means by which the medication was administered. 8. Once trained, early learning center employees can administer and must properly dispose of any stock emergency medications, upon the earlier of the prescription’s usage or expiration, to a child on the premises who is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency and has received written authorization for administration of said medication, in accordance with the protocol in the emergency medication standing order