HOT TOPIC: Rule Relief for Renewals of Medication Administration Certification

TOPIC: Rule Relief for Renewals of Medication Administration Certification

DATE: 3/20/2020                                               

TARGETED AUDIENCE: All Providers, County Boards and DD Personnel

The purpose of this Hot Topic is to share information that was sent out by the Ohio Department of Disabilities on 3/19/2020 regarding renewals of Medication Administration Certifications for Category 1, 2 and 3.

DODD has waived some of the provisions in OAC 5123:2-6-06 (E) “Maintenance of developmental disabilities personnel certification” due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) statewide emergency. Effective until 8/1/2020 or until further notice, personnel that have a current medication administration certification for Category 1, 2 and 3 may continue to provide medication administration and receive nursing delegation for up to 180 days past the certification’s expiration date. These personnel may meet the renewal requirements without repeating the entire certification course for up to 180 days after expiration.

Information for RN Trainers sent out from DODD on 3/16/2020 informed nurses that medication administration certification renewals education and skill’s verification may be completed remotely as needed if the personnel’s attendance and skill’s performance can be verified. A remote training method of providing certification renewals could prove to be very beneficial and prudent at this time.

Initial certification classes for Category 1, 2, and 3 still require the full certification requirements with focus on attendee wellness screening, social distancing, universal precautions (UP), standard precautions (SP), and transmission-based precautions (TBP). RN Trainers are to use the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance for preventing the transmission of communicable diseases when teaching the initial certification classes.

If there are any questions or clarifications needed in regards to this information please contact Stacy Adams QA RN Coordinator at 419-307-5291 or by email at sadams@clearwatercog.org.