Member Area Login
If this is the first time you are logging into the ASA website or you can't remember your password, please select Get a new password below to be sent a link to your registered email address.
If this is the first time you are logging into the ASA website or you can't remember your password, please select Get a new password below to be sent a link to your registered email address.
Hi,
Thanks for your questions regarding sonographer performed injections.
Sorry for the delay in replying, we were trying to ensure we provided you the most informed answer.
We are assuming as you have submitted this to the ASA MSK SIG, this question is regarding MSK injections.
We totally understand the difficulty encountered in regional/rural areas, where patients do not have the same access to healthcare (such as easily administered ultrasound guided pain relief/interventions) as their metropolitan counterparts and are in support of sonographers addressing such a need to allow health equity. Unfortunately, the policy/guideline work in this area is slow to develop, not through lack of trying, but addressing the differences that occur in different states around Australia.
Sonographer performed injections are not currently in the Sonographer role/scope of practice.
One of the issues regarding sonographer performed interventional procedures, including the injections of medications/substances/materials into patients is that there are different rulings for different states/territories of Australia.
In some Australian states (such as Victoria), sonographer performed injections is not allowed. In other states, depending on the workplace agreements, sonographers can perform injections following completion of training regarding pharmaceuticals/pharmacology administration.
Sonographers performing MSK guided injections may need to be required to be familiar with poisons/medications acts/legislations (which can vary from state to state).
So, when finding/using a sonographer mentor that also performs injections, you may need to consider using one from the same states as you could encounter differences in rulings/legal requirements in different states.
There is a document the ASA has developed which has FAQ regarding sonographer performed MSK injections:
https://www.sonographers.org/publicassets/e1e4ca9c-0adf-ef11-9137-0050568796d8/FAQs-on-Sonographer-administered-ultrasound-guided-MSK-injections.pdf
It appears New South Wales legislation permits medical practitioners to direct other employees (such as sonographers) to administer restricted drugs on their behalf.
We are currently not sure who is performing MSK injections in NSW. You could reach out to the ASA policy and advocacy team (policy@sonographers.org) if you have questions regarding jurisdiction legislations.
The ASA is trying to address this exact issue and is currently planning research into extended scope of practice for sonographers, which includes scoping what is happening in the sonographer performed MSK injection space.
At present, extended scope of practice of sonographers (extension of their role beyond the normal role), needs to be agreed on by the department/workplace of sonographers.
You will also just need to ensure your insurance will cover you undertaking this practice as well.
Sorry that we cannot provide exact advice regarding this form of practice at present. We are hoping in the future, that we can offer more tangible resources and advice. We also hope that you can come to some arrangement to alleviate your patient wait times for access to these procedures that can improve their quality of life.
Thanks
Michelle Fenech (chair of the ASA MSK SIG)