Misappropriation of Resident Medication by Staff
Penalty
Summary
A certified medication aide (CMA) at the facility was implicated in the misappropriation of a resident's medication, specifically Ondansetron, which is prescribed to prevent nausea and vomiting. The resident involved was an elderly female with severe cognitive impairment, contractures, dysphagia, and dementia, requiring extensive assistance with activities of daily living. Her care plan included monitoring for symptoms related to her medications, and she had an as-needed order for Ondansetron. The incident came to light when a community member, who was reportedly the CMA's pregnant roommate, provided the facility with a photograph of the resident's blister pack of Ondansetron at her home, as well as screenshots of text messages suggesting the CMA was involved in drug diversion. The text messages indicated the CMA was seeking to obtain and distribute controlled substances, and the community member claimed the CMA had taken the resident's medication for her own use. The facility's investigation confirmed that the blister pack belonged to the resident, and the CMA was confronted with the evidence. Interviews with facility leadership confirmed that the act of removing resident medications from the facility constituted drug diversion and was against facility policy. The Director of Nursing and Administrator both acknowledged that such actions placed the resident at risk for not receiving necessary medication. The facility's policies on medication diversion and abuse required prompt reporting and investigation of such incidents, and the documentation confirmed that the misappropriation of the resident's property had occurred.