Failure to Review and Verify Medication Orders Results in Severe Medication Error
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to ensure that a physician properly reviewed and verified medication orders for a resident admitted with multiple complex diagnoses, including cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and Parkinson's disease. Upon admission, the resident's medication orders for Carbidopa/Levodopa and Levothyroxine were transposed, resulting in the resident receiving incorrect dosages and frequencies of both medications. The error was not identified or corrected by the admitting nurse, the physician assistant, or the physician, despite documentation indicating that the medication orders were outside the recommended dosing regimen and pending confirmation. The resident, who was ambulatory and able to care for themselves upon admission, experienced a significant decline during their stay. The medication administration record showed that the resident received multiple extra doses of Levothyroxine over several days, totaling 2800 mcg within a 96-hour period. Progress notes and interviews revealed that the resident became confused, disoriented, unable to ambulate, and exhibited signs consistent with thyroid storm, such as elevated temperature, tachycardia, and altered mental status. Family members and the medical examiner confirmed the resident's rapid deterioration and the facility's admission of the medication error. The review of the resident's records indicated that the transcription error was made by the RN/Unit Manager and confirmed by the same nurse. The physician assistant noted the need to confirm the dosing but did not discontinue or correct the erroneous orders. The medical director stated that the physician assistant should have changed the orders and that the pharmacist and nursing staff should have recognized the error, as Levothyroxine is typically administered once daily in the morning. The failure to properly review, verify, and correct the medication orders directly resulted in the resident's severe adverse effects and subsequent death.