Failure to Administer Medications Within Required Timeframes
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to administer medications in accordance with professional standards of practice for four residents, as evidenced by medication administration records and staff interviews. For each of these residents, multiple medications were not given within the facility's policy of 60 minutes before or after the scheduled time. The medications involved included treatments for conditions such as seasonal allergies, spinal stenosis, high cholesterol, rhabdomyolysis, muscle spasms, high blood pressure, increased eye pressure, seizure-like activity, pain, arthritic pain, and constipation. For one resident, medications such as pseudoephedrine, baclofen, azelastine, simvastatin, and magnesium oxide were administered several hours after their scheduled times. Another resident experienced delays in receiving hydralazine, carvedilol, and brimonidine tartrate, with administration occurring up to several hours late. A third resident did not receive levetiracetam and Tylenol at the scheduled time, with both being administered six hours late. The fourth resident had tramadol, diclofenac gel, and Miralax administered outside the required time window. Interviews with nursing staff confirmed that medications should be administered within one hour before or after the scheduled time to ensure proper dosing and avoid overmedication. The facility's own policy also requires medications to be given within 60 minutes of the scheduled time. These findings were communicated to the facility administrator, and no additional information was provided prior to the survey exit.