Failure to Provide Ordered Topical Medication Due to Lack of Pharmaceutical Services
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to provide adequate pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of a resident who required a physician-ordered topical treatment. The resident, who had diagnoses including anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, and hypertension, reported not receiving a routine hemorrhoid cream that had been ordered to reduce inflammation and pain related to a rectal fissure. Despite the resident's repeated requests, the medication was not available for administration. Facility staff, including the ADON and DON, were unable to locate the prescribed cream in the treatment or medication carts, nor could they provide documentation that the pharmacy had delivered the medication. The facility's policy required that drugs and biologicals be reordered at least three days before the last dose to ensure availability, but there was no evidence this process was followed for the resident's treatment.