Failure to Provide and Administer Prescribed Medications to New Admission
Penalty
Summary
A newly admitted resident with a diagnosis of traumatic subdural hematoma and additional medical needs was not provided with several prescribed medications, including Heparin Sodium, Dronabinol, Modafinil, and Mekinist, for multiple days following admission. Nursing notes and the electronic medication administration record (EMAR) documented that these medications were not administered because they were not available from the pharmacy. The facility failed to ensure timely acquisition and administration of these medications, and there was no evidence that the attending physician was made aware of the ongoing unavailability of the medications. Further, an interview with the Director of Nursing revealed that the facility did not have a policy or procedure in place to ensure residents receive their prescribed medications or a protocol to follow when medications are not available from the pharmacy or not administered. This lack of established processes contributed to the resident not receiving necessary medications as ordered by the physician.