Objectives
In Western Canada, British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) aimed to enhance prehospital pain management by allowing Primary Care Paramedics (PCP) to administer intranasal (IN) ketamine. The objective of this study is to describe patient safety implications of expanding PCP scope to include IN ketamine.
Methods
This retrospective, observational study reviewed patient care records of the first 100 consecutive patient encounters where PCPs administered IN ketamine for pain between December 2020 and September 2021. Data analysis used the Canadian Quality and Patient Safety Institute Framework and 7 Rights of Medication Administration.
Results
Of the 100 patients, 74% met the analgesia clinical practice guideline (CPG) criteria: adult, trauma, and moderate to severe pain. Most injuries (31%) involved extremities or hips/pelvis (18%). With 6 cases missing data, an 11.2% dosage error rate (>5mg deviation) was identified. In 14 cases, PCPs did not contact clinical support and administered ketamine outside of the CPG. Documentation errors occurred in 25% of patient encounters, particularly with pain scores (20), patient weight (15) and vital signs (8), possibly indicating incomplete patient assessments. No instances of patient harm resulting from dosing errors or missed consultations were observed throughout the study.
Conclusions
This study highlights the safety implications of PCP-administered ketamine including concerns about weight-based dosing, CPG compliance and documentation standards. The key competencies of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute framework offer a foundation for addressing these safety concerns before expanding ketamine administration for PCPs.
Accepted for publication in the Journal of Patient Safety, June 2025. PDF coming soon.