Failure to Administer Medication With Meals as Ordered
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with multiple gastrointestinal diagnoses, including ulcerative colitis and a history of abdominal surgery, did not receive Balsalazide Disodium 750 mg as ordered with meals. The resident's care plan specified the need for medication administration as ordered to manage pain and discomfort related to gastrointestinal conditions. The physician's order required the medication to be given by mouth with meals three times daily. During a medication pass observation, a nurse administered the medication to the resident before lunch was served, and no meal was present at the bedside at the time of administration. The medication packaging was clearly labeled to indicate it should be given with meals and at noon. Interviews with nursing staff and the Director of Nursing confirmed that medications intended to be taken with food are ordered that way to prevent gastrointestinal upset and discomfort. The facility's policy required medications to be administered in accordance with physician orders. The failure to administer Balsalazide Disodium with meals as ordered constituted a deficiency in pharmaceutical services, as it did not meet the resident's needs or comply with established medication administration protocols.