Failure to Ensure Timely Availability and Administration of Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that medications were available and administered as ordered for two residents. One resident did not receive prescribed oral antibiotics on time following a hospital discharge, as the medication was not available in the facility. The hospital discharge orders specified that oral antibiotics were to begin after intravenous antibiotics were discontinued, but there was a delay of two days before the oral antibiotics were started. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the medication was ordered but not received from the pharmacy until several days after it was needed. Another resident did not receive pain medication at the scheduled time. The resident reported that pain medications were often administered late, specifically noting a delay in receiving the morning dose. Review of the medication administration record showed that the scheduled administration times were not consistently followed, and staff interviews confirmed that the pain medication was given late due to a busy morning and competing priorities. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that the pain medication was administered late and should have been given on time.