Failure to Notify Responsible Party of Antipsychotic Medication Change
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify the responsible party when a resident's antipsychotic medication order was changed. Specifically, a resident with moderately impaired cognitive ability was admitted on risperidone, and the dosage was increased on two separate occasions. There was no documentation in the clinical record that the responsible party had been notified of these medication changes, as required by facility policy, which states that notification must occur within 24 hours of a change in treatment. Interviews with the Resident Care Manager/Registered Nurse and the Director of Nursing Services confirmed that both processed the medication order changes but did not notify the responsible party or document any such notification. The responsible party was known to be particularly concerned about medications that could cause drowsiness, yet was not informed of the changes to the resident's antipsychotic regimen.