Delay in Timely Administration of IV Antibiotic Medication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide timely administration of intravenous antibiotic medication for one resident. The resident was admitted following a hospital stay with a physician's order to receive Ceftriaxone 2 grams daily for 14 days. However, the medication was not administered until three days after the order was written. Medical records and progress notes indicated that the delay was due to a discrepancy in the dosage written on the initial order, which stated 1 gram instead of 2 grams, prompting the pharmacy to request clarification. Additionally, there was a delay in the delivery of the necessary intravenous pump for administration. Interviews with facility staff, including the DON and pharmacy, confirmed that the order was received but required clarification, which was not resolved until two days later. The facility's policy required immediate intervention to ensure medications are received within four hours if not available, but this was not followed. The delay in medication administration was verified by both facility staff and the pharmacy, and the medical director acknowledged the three-day delay in providing the ordered antibiotics.