Medication Administration Delay for a Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide nursing services consistent with professional standards of quality by not ensuring timely administration of medications for a resident. According to the Pennsylvania Code and the facility's policy, medications should be administered within one hour of their prescribed times. However, a review of Resident 56's Medication Administration Record revealed that medications scheduled for 9:00 AM were administered significantly late on multiple occasions. Specifically, on March 23, 2025, the medications were given at 10:35 AM, and on March 24, 2025, at 10:58 AM, both times exceeding the one-hour window. Resident 56, who was admitted with diagnoses including pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and osteoarthritis, expressed frustration over the delays, particularly with the late administration of morphine, which resulted in increased pain and discomfort. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that medications should be administered timely in accordance with physician orders and professional standards of practice, highlighting a deficiency in the facility's adherence to these standards.