Medication Error Rate Exceeds Acceptable Threshold Due to Improper Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a medication error rate below 5%, as evidenced by direct observation of medication administration. During 29 observed medication administration opportunities, an LPN was seen crushing and administering Pantoprazole DR 40mg tablet and Potassium Chloride ER 10meQ tablet, as well as opening a Tolterodine ER 4mg capsule and providing its contents orally to a resident. The LPN confirmed these actions during an interview. The facility's contract pharmacist verified that these extended-release (ER) and delayed-release (DR) medications should not have been crushed or opened, and stated that no documentation existed to support altering these medications in this manner. This practice had the potential to affect all 145 residents receiving medications in the facility.