Failure to Complete Ordered Levetiracetam Level for Resident with Epilepsy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident with a diagnosis of epilepsy received timely laboratory monitoring as ordered by the physician. Specifically, the physician had ordered a Levetiracetam blood level to be completed on the next lab day and every three months thereafter. Review of the resident's records showed that this test was not completed as ordered. The care plan for the resident indicated that laboratory results were to be monitored and any subtherapeutic or toxic results reported to the physician, but there was no evidence that the required Levetiracetam level was obtained. During an interview and record review with an LVN, it was confirmed that the Levetiracetam blood test had not been performed. The LVN acknowledged the importance of the test in ensuring the medication dosage was appropriate and stated that the physician relied on these results to determine if adjustments were needed. The resident's medical history included hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and epilepsy, and the resident was assessed as needing moderate assistance with activities of daily living.