Failure to Report Suspected Misappropriation of Resident Medication
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of misappropriation of property involving a resident's medication to local law enforcement and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). According to facility policy, upon receiving an allegation of resident abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property, the facility is required to begin an investigation and file reports with appropriate agencies if there is reasonable suspicion that a crime has occurred. Despite this, when a certified medication aide (CMA) discovered that a medication card containing approximately six doses of alprazolam and the corresponding narcotic sheet were missing from the medication cart, the incident was only reported internally to the Director of Nursing (DON) and not to external authorities. The resident involved had diagnoses including anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, with a BIMS score indicating moderate cognitive impairment. The missing medication was an antianxiety drug prescribed as needed. The DON confirmed being notified of the missing medications but did not report the incident to OSDH or law enforcement, as required by facility policy and state regulations. This omission constituted a failure to follow mandated reporting procedures for suspected misappropriation of resident property.