Unnecessary Use of Antipsychotic Medications for Residents with Dementia
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that antipsychotic medications were only prescribed for appropriate, approved diagnoses. Two residents were identified as receiving Quetiapine, an antipsychotic medication, for diagnoses of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, which are not approved indications for this medication according to facility policy. One resident had an order for Quetiapine for unspecified mild dementia with behavioral disturbance, and the DON confirmed that the resident did not have a diagnosis that justified the use of this medication. The medication order had been continued from the resident's admission without proper review for appropriateness. Another resident was prescribed Quetiapine for Alzheimer's disease, unspecified. The DON acknowledged that Quetiapine is intended for specific mental health diagnoses and not for dementia, and stated that the order should have been changed. The resident was receiving the medication due to behavioral issues, such as removing their belt and attempting to hit others, but there was no documentation of an approved diagnosis for antipsychotic use. The facility's policy requires antipsychotic medications to be used only when necessary for specific, indicated conditions, which was not followed in these cases.