Failure to Maintain Complete Glucometer Accuracy Testing Records
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain complete and accurate clinical records for glucometer accuracy testing and documentation, as required by accepted professional standards. Specifically, the glucometer logbooks for the 100, 200, 300, and 400 hall nurse carts were missing recorded test results on several dates. Interviews with staff revealed that it was the night shift nurses' responsibility to test the glucometers and record the results daily, but on multiple occasions, this was not done. One nurse admitted to testing the glucometers but forgetting to record the results, while another nurse stated she forgot to test the glucometers during her shift. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that daily testing and documentation were expected, although there was no written facility policy specifying this frequency, and the manufacturer's guidelines only required weekly testing. Record review and staff interviews confirmed that the required daily accuracy checks and documentation for glucometers were not consistently performed or recorded. The absence of these records could impact the safe administration of insulin to residents, as accurate glucometer readings are necessary for proper dosing. The DON was unable to provide a facility policy outlining the required frequency for glucometer testing when requested by the surveyor.